Delay in Somalwada Underpass Opening Leaves Commuters Frustrated
Nagpur, India: The opening of the Somalwada underpass, promised during the elections, is taking much longer than expected. The construction is finished, but the underpass is still closed to vehicles. This is causing confusion and frustration for residents and commuters who are forced to take longer routes.
The underpass was built to connect Manish Nagar to Wardha Road and provide an alternative to the Manish Nagar railway underpass. People living on both sides of the railway were excited about the project, hoping it would make travel easier. However, the underpass has not opened yet, even though the construction is complete.
Without the underpass, traffic has become worse. The Manish Nagar underpass is overcrowded and can only handle traffic from one side. Due to the closure of the Somalwada-Besa road, vehicles are now using the underpass from both directions, creating dangerous driving conditions.
A traffic officer explained, "The lack of options to reach Wardha Road has caused heavy traffic on the Beltarodi-Manish Nagar road. Opening the Somalwada underpass will help reduce traffic and improve flow."
Residents are frustrated. Aakash, who lives nearby, said, "We are being made to wait too long. We have to take longer routes, and they are always crowded."
Another resident, added, "I’ve asked workers about the delay, and they told me the road near Somalwada is the problem. If that’s true, it shows poor coordination between different departments."
When media visited the site, officials said the road near the underpass was ready for use, except for some final work like installing pavements and pipelines. This suggests a lack of communication between the departments involved.
The delay is also affecting local businesses. Shops along the underpass route have seen a decrease in customers. Amit Menghare, a shop owner, said, “I was told the subway would open before the elections, but now it’s still closed. I’m waiting for it to open so that people can come back.”
The delay highlights a bigger issue: poor coordination between the agencies in charge of the project. While Maha Metro has finished its work, the decision to open the subway now lies with the Public Works Department (PWD), which hasn’t given a clear timeline.
Residents and businesses are hoping the subway will open soon to ease the traffic and bring customers back.
-t-thumb.jpeg)
