Unfinished Manjri Bridge Imposes Burdensome Detour on Schoolchildren
Mahadeonagar Manjari Bk: What should be a bridge to connect and ease travel has transformed into an inconvenience for residents of Mahadeonagar. A long-pending rail overbridge construction project, which has languished for years, is causing a significant detour for schoolchildren and their parents. This detour is stretching the commute from a mere 2km to a painstaking 9km journey through congested traffic for those residing in housing societies along Manjri Road.
The bridge’s purpose of shortening distances has turned into a frustrating ordeal for students and parents. Commuting to school, which previously took a brief 10 minutes, has now been extended to over an hour, causing immense frustration and impacting students’ academic routine.
The rail overbridge, though approximately 90% complete, remains stalled due to land acquisition issues affecting 50m sections on both ends of the bridge. Despite substantial progress in construction, these acquisition obstacles have brought the project to a virtual standstill.
Mitesh Jain, a resident of Kalpataru Serenity housing society, shared his distressing experience as a parent. His 4-year-old child attends The Kalyani School located on the opposite side of the incomplete overbridge. “We chose this school because it was a convenient 2km distance away. Previously, the railway crossing provided easy access. Now, due to the detour, our commute has extended to almost 9km. By the time my son reaches home, he’s exhausted and disheartened due to the traffic ordeal,” Jain lamented.
The construction of the overbridge began in 2018, but it ground to a halt two years ago due to the unresolved land acquisition matters, leaving only the portions requiring private land in the possession of the Public Works Department (PWD) unfinished.
Sagar Pandharkar, another concerned parent, voiced his concern about the inconvenience caused to his 6-year-old son. “My son is weary of the long bus journey. Children often fall asleep on the bus. At least a few times each week, my son requests me to drop him off on my motorcycle. Despite the bridge being incomplete, it would still facilitate a faster route to school,” Pandharkar shared.
Although temporary barriers have been installed on the bridge to control traffic, smaller vehicles continue to bypass the regulations.
Nirmal Waddan, the principal of The Kalyani School, highlighted the ripple effects on the school’s operations. The detour has led to delays in school bus arrivals, affecting approximately 96% of students who rely on school transportation. The overbridge’s completion would significantly alleviate congestion and streamline bus routes, enhancing students’ timely arrival.
Despite the school’s proactive communication with authorities, including the commissioner, about the issue, no tangible progress has been observed.
As the completion of the bridge remains uncertain, the school has had to adjust schedules and procedures to accommodate delayed bus arrivals. Younger students now resort to eating their morning snacks on the bus to minimize class disruptions.
Officials from the PWD acknowledged the ongoing land acquisition deadlock. While a portion of the bridge has been illicitly used by locals and commuters after barriers were moved, PWD officials emphasized the bridge’s incompleteness and the potential dangers of using it prematurely.
The PWD’s efforts to expedite the land acquisition process have been met with challenges, including disagreements over land prices. Contractors are eager to complete the project, with assurances that the unfinished sections under their purview have been diligently addressed.
Amid these challenges, the hope remains that the unfinished Manjri Bridge will be fully operational before Diwali, once land acquisition hurdles are successfully navigated. Until then, the community continues to grapple with the burdensome detour, affecting schoolchildren, parents, and commuters alike.
