Nagpur: The second phase of the Nagpur Metro project, which includes the much-anticipated Kamptee-Kanhan corridor, is rapidly gaining momentum with viaduct and pillar installations inching closer to Kamptee city. Soil testing and station construction are currently underway, marking steady progress. However, growing concerns over traffic congestion and roadside encroachments threaten to derail the smooth execution of construction work in the area.
As the Metro work begins to expand into Kamptee town, the issue of inconsistent road width due to widespread encroachments has come to the forefront. While some sections have adequate space for construction equipment and vehicle movement, others are severely constricted, making it difficult for motorists to navigate. Daily traffic jams have already become a norm, even before full-scale construction activities begin within city limits.
Adding to the public inconvenience is the lack of adequate police presence for traffic management. Commuters have alleged that local police are more focused on issuing challans than on regulating the increasing congestion caused by preliminary Metro work.
According to Nagpur Metro PRO Akhilesh Halwe, 95% of land acquisition for Phase 2 in Kamptee has been completed. “On the Kamptee-Nagpur Highway, we’ve already deployed significant manpower, erected barricades, stationed traffic marshals, and installed speed breakers to control vehicle speed and prevent accidents. The same measures will be replicated inside Kamptee town during active construction,” he said.
Halwe also noted that to minimize public inconvenience, Metro authorities have directed construction workers to carry out heavy-duty operations during nighttime hours.
Addressing the issue of encroachments, Halwe clarified that removing them falls outside the jurisdiction of the Metro authority and must be addressed by local civic bodies.
As Nagpur Metro Phase 2 moves forward, all eyes are now on how the authorities plan to balance infrastructural development with civic challenges like traffic control and encroachment removal in the densely populated Kamptee area.
