Controversial Deekshabhoomi Parking Project to be Filled up Before 20 September
Nagpur, India: The Deekshabhoomi underground parking project, is now near to completion as the Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) works to meet the September 20 deadline for backfilling the site. The project, which had been the center of agitation due to its proposed construction, is now being filled and leveled after the removal of construction debris and steel rebars.
The NMRDA took over the task from its contractor on Saturday, deploying heavy machinery including two large excavators, six tippers, a loader, and four vibratory rollers to speed up the process. Senior NMRDA officials are supervising the operation around the clock to ensure timely completion. With favorable weather conditions, the team is working at full pace, and approximately three-quarters of the 2-acre site has already been filled.
The project had encountered delays due to recent rains, which made the soil too viscous for proper compaction. However, the NMRDA is now pushing ahead, and the cost of the operation will be deducted from the contractor’s final bill. Additionally, Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) fire department has been assisting in dewatering the 3.6-meter-deep pits.
Earlier, the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) conducted an audit, recommending backfilling the excavated portions of the site after removing the raft foundation that had been laid for the underground parking. Heavy steel rebars and columns were cut and removed, while bores were drilled into the remaining concrete slab to facilitate water drainage in case of rain. The NMRDA has placed a layer of fabric over the bores filled with granular material to allow proper water percolation and prevent the site from turning into a swamp.
The project has been mired in controversy, with protests from Ambedkarite organizations opposing the underground parking construction at the sacred site. These protests escalated into violent incidents, causing damage to equipment at the site. Following the protests, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered an immediate suspension of the project, and after discussions with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the NMRDA was tasked with completing the backfilling work.
The NMRDA aims to complete the backfilling by September 20 to ensure the site is ready for the upcoming Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din program on October 12. With the work progressing at full speed, officials are confident that the deadline will be met.
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