Laxman Jhula Bridge Nagpur: Opening Set to Be Delayed as PWD’s Approach Road Work Hits a Wall

Ajni Bridge Nagpur: Nagpur’s most-awaited infrastructure project — the Rs 332-crore Laxman Jhula cable-stayed bridge at Ajni — is staring at an uncertain opening date. The reason? A bureaucratic standoff over a piece of railway land that nobody seems to be in a hurry to resolve.

If you live in central or south Nagpur and commute daily through the Ajni corridor, this directly affects you. Here’s everything you need to know.

What Is the Laxman Jhula Bridge Project?

The Laxman Jhula bridge is a modern six-lane cable-stayed bridge being built at Ajni, one of Nagpur’s most congested traffic corridors. The project is being executed by Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (MRIDC), better known as MahaRail, at a total cost of Rs 332 crore.

The current British-era Ajni bridge — over 125 years old — is being replaced in phases to avoid complete traffic disruption in the area.

How Is the Project Being Executed?

Since Ajni Square handles enormous daily traffic, MahaRail is building the bridge in two phases:

• Phase 1: A brand new three-lane carriageway is being constructed right alongside the old Ajni bridge.
• Once Phase 1 is complete, all traffic — both directions — will shift to the new structure.
• The 125-year-old bridge will then be demolished, and Phase 2 construction of the second carriageway will begin.
• After both carriageways are ready, each will handle one-way traffic, dramatically improving the connection between central Nagpur and south Nagpur.

It’s a smart phased approach. But right now, Phase 1 itself is stuck — not because of construction problems, but because of missing approach roads.

Why Is the Opening Getting Delayed?

Here’s where the problem lies.

The first phase of the Laxman Jhula bridge does not have its own independent approach roads. It depends entirely on a separate Rs 35-crore PWD project that includes:

1. An underpass near Ajni Bridge Square — aimed at improving connectivity between Congress Nagar and Chuna Bhati, and easing conflicts for vehicles traveling between Kriplani Square and Ajni Bridge.
2. Road widening from Ajni Bridge to TB Ward Square — the existing 18-metre road is to be expanded to a 30-metre, six-lane corridor that will serve as the main approach to the bridge.

Without this PWD work, the Laxman Jhula bridge — even when construction-ready — simply cannot be opened to traffic.

The Railway Land Problem

Here’s the catch: a portion of the proposed road widening falls within railway limits. PWD needs this railway land on lease to complete the widening work.

According to sources, this requirement was identified more than 18 months ago. And yet, almost nothing has been done to secure the land.

“PWD officials have not even met the DRM (CR) to discuss the issue,” sources revealed. “The delay could affect both the road-widening project and the opening of Laxman Jhula.”

A senior PWD official, when asked about the status, admitted that the matter has not yet been pursued at the appropriate level. He said: “We require railway land on lease for road widening and construction of approaches to the bridge. A meeting with the DRM (CR) will be scheduled soon, and the matter will also be taken up with higher authorities.”

In other words — the meeting hasn’t happened yet. After 18 months.

What Will the Bridge and Underpass Mean for Nagpur?

When fully complete, this project promises major relief for commuters:

• Smoother traffic flow between central and south Nagpur
• Reduced congestion at Ajni Bridge Square
• Better connectivity between Congress Nagar, Chuna Bhati, Kriplani Square, and TB Ward Square
• A modern six-lane corridor replacing a cramped 18-metre road

The underpass alone is expected to reduce traffic conflict significantly for the thousands of vehicles that pass through this junction daily.

What Happens Next?

The PWD has said it will schedule a meeting with the Divisional Railway Manager (Central Railway) soon and escalate the matter to higher authorities. But “soon” has meant 18 months of waiting already.

Until the railway land issue is resolved, neither the road widening nor the underpass can be completed — and without those, the Laxman Jhula bridge cannot be opened to the public, no matter how advanced the construction gets.

Nagpur’s commuters will be watching closely.

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