NHAI proposes 8-lane cable stayed bridge to replace ageing Ajni RoB
| Date :10-Sep-2020 |
Weakening Structure: Footpath on Ajni RoB is barricaded as it has weakened due to wear and tear and prolong its life till replacement.
■ By Sagar Mohod :
AN ICONIC eight lane cable stayed railway overbridge (RoB) is planned by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for replacement of ageing Ajni RoB. Right now the proposal is with Railway Board where the Engineering Department is glossing over the finer details of the project conceived along side Inter Modal Station (IMS) also coming up near Ajni railway station. Abhijit Jichkar, Project Director, NHAI, confirming the project said that it is being taken up under Bharat Mata scheme and is meant for replacement of the present Ajni RoB which is overdue for replacement.
The current two lanes RoB is giving jitters to Railways and they have undertaken a study to determine its structural stability. Given the importance of IMS, NHAI has prepared for eight lanes RoB considering proposed future development once Ajni railway station is upgraded as satellite terminal. The Ajni project would be similar to Ram Jhulla, the first cable stayed bridge of Central India, that replaced the Santra Market RoB, but it’s scale would be much bigger. The eight laned cable stayed RoB would transform the entire area and further bridge the gap between Western and Southern Nagpur. In second leg of IMS, adjoining land of State Government is being eyed by NHAI for development of business district. Therefore the eight lane RoB is proposed at Congress Nagar-Ajni crossover so that there is no traffic congestion in future. The NHAI has submitted general arrangement drawing (GAD) mentioning basic details and proposed alignment of the eight lane RoB to railways.
The drawings were vetted by office of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Central Railway's Nagpur Division. Subsequently, Zonal office at Mumbai to went through the draft about eight laned bridge and with comments same was forwarded to Board for final approval. The mega project is estimated to cost Rs 300 crore but given the scope of work the price is subject to revision, said people in know of the project. Jichkar said each of the lane would be of 3.5 metres width and the bridge would have two span, one of 118 metres and second one of 80 metres. While the tender for IMS has been awarded, the one for Ajni cable stayed bridge would float once approvals from Railway Board are in place.
The new eight-lane RoB at Ajni would be constructed in two phases with four lanes in first phase and on Southern side of existing RoB. The existing RoB constructed by Britishers using brick, mortar and in stone masonry would be cut using diamond blades to pave way for second phase of cable stayed bridge. A central pylon would hold the weight of all the eight lanes of the RoB and Jichkar when asked said the spot has capability to carry of the project. Under IMS the area surrounding Ajni railway station is set for a major transformation with 80 metres wide road and massive commercial complex lining up on either side on road leading to Medical Square. The new Ajni RoB would also align with new road that is under construction to bridge the distance from Ajni to Ridge Road.
