Nagpur’s Manish Nagar Underpass: The Troubled Project Shaping Vidarbha’s Commute

thenewsdirt
Jul 2
8 min read

The Manish Nagar underpass project in Nagpur stands as a stark reminder of how poor planning, design failures, and administrative inefficiencies have plagued the city's infrastructure development.

This ambitious project, meant to enhance connectivity in Vidarbha's commercial hub, has instead become a symbol of governmental incompetence and citizen frustration.

Multiple Agencies, Multiple Problems

The construction of the Manish Nagar underpass involves four separate agencies: MahaMetro, Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), State Public Works Department (PWD), and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). This multi-agency approach has created a perfect storm of coordination failures, with each entity passing responsibility to the other whilst citizens bear the brunt of prolonged construction delays.

The first Manish Nagar underpass, constructed by MahaMetro in 2019, was designed as a one-way passage connecting Wardha Road to Manish Nagar. However, the project cost ballooned from an initial estimate to Rs 126 crore, setting a precedent for the financial mismanagement that would characterise subsequent projects.

The second underpass, near the Somalwada railway crossing, experienced similar cost escalation from Rs 25 crore to Rs 32 crore, reflecting a pattern of poor budgetary planning and execution.

The timeline for the second underpass tells a story of consistent delays and missed deadlines. Work orders were issued in February 2023, construction began in July 2023, and the original completion date was set for February 2024.

The deadline was subsequently extended to June 2024, then postponed indefinitely due to various administrative and technical challenges. By October 2024, the underpass was nearly complete, but remained unopened due to coordination issues between agencies and the pending official inauguration.

In early January 2025, frustrated residents, fed up with the delays, forcibly opened the underpass for public use.

Since then, the second underpass has been operational, with vehicles using it daily, even as some minor finishing work and formalities were still pending at the time of opening. The official inauguration eventually took place later in January 2025.

Design Disasters and Construction Defects

The construction quality of the Manish Nagar underpasses has been severely compromised by fundamental design flaws. The first underpass has consistently suffered from waterlogging issues, getting flooded with knee-deep water even during moderate rainfall.

Despite MahaMetro's initial assurances that the structure would remain dry during monsoons, the underpass regularly transforms into what locals describe as a "swimming pool" with waist-deep water.

The drainage system installed beneath the first underpass has proven inadequate, with the middle portion consistently accumulating water due to poor gradient planning. Garbage dumping and lack of regular maintenance have further exacerbated the drainage problems, with plastic bottles and bags choking the drain channels.

The design disaster becomes particularly evident during the monsoon season when the underpass routinely closes for traffic, forcing commuters to seek alternative routes.

Structural defects have emerged as another major concern. The first underpass now features exposed iron rods protruding from the road surface, creating serious safety hazards for motorists.

A recent incident saw a motorcyclist narrowly escape an accident after tripping over these protruding iron bars. The lighting system within the underpass is also failing, with flickering lights creating unsafe conditions, particularly during night hours.

The width of the underpass has also proven problematic. Designed with sharp turns and narrow passages, the structure struggles to accommodate the actual traffic volume it experiences. This has led to frequent accidents and traffic congestion, particularly when vehicles attempt to navigate the turns during peak hours.

The second underpass, though newer and now open for public use, has not been immune to criticism.

Residents have raised concerns about the approach roads, incomplete signage, and the lack of proper pedestrian facilities.

The hurried opening by citizens, ahead of the official inauguration, highlighted the community’s desperation for connectivity but also exposed the incomplete state of some auxiliary works at the time of opening.

Administrative Buck-Passing and Maintenance Woes

One of the most glaring issues surrounding the Manish Nagar underpass project is the confusion over maintenance responsibilities. MahaMetro has stated that it no longer has jurisdiction over the first underpass, claiming to have handed it over to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. However, NMC officials have denied formal responsibility, stating that the civic body has not yet officially taken over the structure.

This administrative buck-passing has resulted in a maintenance vacuum, with neither agency taking responsibility for essential repairs and upkeep.

The lack of accountability has allowed infrastructure defects to worsen over time, creating increasingly dangerous conditions for commuters.

It was only after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's direct intervention that NMC was directed to take over maintenance responsibilities for both Manish Nagar underpasses.

The maintenance confusion extends to other aspects of infrastructure management. The responsibility for road repairs, drainage cleaning, and safety equipment maintenance remains unclear, with various agencies citing jurisdictional limitations when approached by citizens.

The prolonged construction and operational failures of the Manish Nagar underpass have had devastating effects on local communities and businesses. The market vibrancy from Manish Nagar to Beltarodi Road had virtually disappeared, with shopkeepers facing significant revenue losses due to the near-halt of vehicular movement.

Local businesses reported that construction disruptions and the closure of the Somalwada level crossing had drastically reduced customer footfall.

Residents of Somalwada, Manish Nagar, and Narendranagar have been forced to endure considerable inconvenience for over five years. The closure of the Somalwada railway crossing for underpass construction forced residents to navigate through narrow lanes and unpaved roads to reach their destinations. Many have reported damage to their vehicles due to the poor condition of alternative routes.

The impact on daily commuters has been particularly severe. Payal Dhanvij, a local banker, described having to park her car elsewhere due to traffic diversions, only to find it badly scratched. The lack of proper alternative routes forced residents to take lengthy detours, significantly increasing travel time and fuel costs.

The educational sector also suffered, with children having to navigate dangerous construction zones and waterlogged areas to reach schools. The lack of proper footpaths and pedestrian facilities around the construction sites created additional safety concerns for vulnerable road users.

With the second underpass now open, residents have received some relief in terms of connectivity, but the scars of years of disruption remain.

The rushed opening by locals, rather than authorities, has also left some citizens sceptical about the completeness and safety of the infrastructure. Some finishing works, including proper signage and road markings, were still being addressed after the opening.

Traffic Violations and Safety Concerns

Despite being designed as a one-way passage, the first Manish Nagar underpass routinely experiences bidirectional traffic flow.

The lack of effective traffic enforcement has led to widespread violations of one-way regulations, with vehicles regularly travelling in the wrong direction. This has resulted in increased accident rates and created dangerous driving conditions, particularly at the sharp turns within the underpass.

Auto-rickshaw drivers have been observed stopping in the middle of the underpass to pick up passengers, further disrupting traffic flow. Private bus operators similarly disregard traffic rules, obstructing the passage whilst loading and unloading passengers. The absence of a consistent traffic police presence has emboldened rule violators, making the underpass increasingly dangerous for law-abiding motorists.

The design of the underpass contributes to these safety concerns. Sharp turns and inadequate lighting make it difficult for drivers to spot oncoming traffic from the opposite direction. Mirrors installed at turning points have proven insufficient to address the visibility issues, particularly during night hours when the lighting system fails.

Traffic congestion has become a daily occurrence, with the underpass unable to handle the volume of vehicles attempting to use it. The situation is further complicated by illegal parking and encroachments on both sides of the underpass exits. Hawkers and vendors have set up stalls near the underpass, attracting visitors who park carelessly and further clog the already narrow passages.

The Manish Nagar underpass saga demonstrates how infrastructure promises in Vidarbha often fail to materialise as intended.

Despite substantial public investment and repeated assurances from officials, the project has consistently failed to deliver on its basic objectives of improved connectivity and traffic management.

The recent incident where frustrated residents forcibly opened the second underpass, bypassing official inauguration ceremonies, exemplifies the growing impatience with administrative delays.

This unprecedented action by citizens reflects their loss of faith in official promises and their determination to access infrastructure they believe should have been operational months earlier.

The reluctance of agencies to take responsibility for maintenance and the confusion over jurisdictional boundaries suggest that these problems will persist long after the construction phase ends.

Without clear accountability mechanisms and improved inter-agency coordination, the Manish Nagar underpass is likely to remain a source of frustration for Vidarbha residents rather than the infrastructure asset it was intended to be.

The project serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of proper planning, quality construction, and clear maintenance protocols in infrastructure development. As Vidarbha continues to advocate for better infrastructure and development, the lessons from the Manish Nagar underpass failures must inform future projects to avoid repeating these costly mistakes.