License of 24 shops terminated for new Ajni RoB
| Date :07-Dec-2022 |
By Sagar Mohod
Fast tracking the process of construction of replacement bridge at Ajni, the Railway administration has terminated licensee of 24 shops and asked them to vacate their establishments within a month. In the meantime, it is now decided that Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (MAHARAIL), a joint venture of Ministry of Railways and Maharashtra Government, is going to construct the six laned cable-stayed bridge. A tender for the project is already floated by MAHARAIL and cost is pegged at around Rs 188 crore.
Knowing well the precarious condition of existing railway overbridge (RoB) at Ajni, Nagpur Municipal Corporation took lead in pitching for funds from Maharashtra Government for construction of new bridge. Earlier, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was to construct the RoB as part of Inter Modal Station (IMS) project that was proposed at Ajni railway station. However as greens opposed the grand plan, NHAI shelved IMS and with it RoB plan also fizzled out as it went beyond their mandate.
Meanwhile, Central Railway kept on pressing the NMC to accelerate process for taking-up the work on replacement bridge and shared the structural audit report prepared by Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT). Post change in Government in Maharashtra, the pace of developments as to Ajni RoB was accelerated as Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave it a definite push and cleared the financial allocation as the 1927 built Ajni bridge is in dilapidated condition.
In the meantime, officials at Nagpur Division set in motion the process to vacate the land on which about 24 shops are located. These shops are in vogue since 40-years and Railways was keen to get the land vacated as they were
loosing revenue as rental was very low. On November 16, 2022, the notices were served and by December 17 the shops are to be vacated as Railways has terminated the lease agreement.
The shops are located in two land pieces, one near the Kamble T-point, just adjoining the Ajni railway colony, and other just after the RoB. In between the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-IV, and Ajni Traffic Branch, too is going to be demolished as they are coming in way of the path of the new RoB. A railway garden adjoining the DCP's office is also going to move into pages of history.
The licensee shopkeepers are trying their level best for rehabilitation but division officials have rejected their claim. A representation of shopkeepers submitted their memorandum to Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Richa Khare and met with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari seeking allocation of alternate land on humanitarian grounds.
As per sources, the State Government is in quite hurry and they are trying to perform bhoomipujan for the new RoB by end of December on in first week of January, 2023. Hence officials of all agencies are co-ordinating their action and ensure land is made available at the earliest.
