The bhoomipujan of construction work of an underpass between Manas Chowk and Institute of Science was held on Saturday, whose work will begin soon. This will ease the traffic movement on the road adjacent to Sitabuldi Fort. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for road transport, who performed the bhoomipujan informed the audience that the estimated cost of the underpass is Rs 80 crore which would connect East, Central, South Nagpur. During the bhoomipujan of underpass, Gadkari also named the road between Zero Mile and Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University as ‘Late Dattaji Didolkar Marg’. The underpass will start from Manas Chowk and reach near Institute of Science. In a year or two, the underpass will be ready. The road adjacent to Sitabuldi fort is witnessing heavy traffic. The vehicular movement will increase further when the road in front of the Railway Station will become six-lane. Considering the possibility of traffic chaos on the road in future, this underpass was proposed.

 

Calling Dattaji Didolkar as the supporter of thousands of workers, Gadkari said, “Didolkar has helped many people during their struggle period. He always helped students in resolving their issues. It is a good coincidence that he was an alumnus of Institute of Science and same road would be known by his name now onwards.” Gadkari also unveiled the mural of late Didolkar. The programme was jointly organised by Nagpur Municipal Corporation, MahaMetro and late Dattaji Didolkar Centenary Celebration Committee. Sanjay Garjalwar, who created mural was felicitated by Gadkari. The family members of Dattaji Didolkar were also honoured.

 

Those present in the programme included MLA Krishna Khopde, MLA Vikas Kumbhare, MLC Pravin Datke, MLA Pankaj Bhoyar, MLC Dr Ramdas Ambatkar, ex-member of Rajya Sabha Ajay Sancheti, Chairman of Reception Committee; Arun Lakhani, Vice-President of the Committee; ex-MLC Dr Upendra Kothekar, Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari, Municipal Commissioner; Dr Subhash Chaudhary, Vice-Chancellor of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), Jayant Pathak, Regional Director at All India Institute of Local Self Government; Senior lawyer Adv Sunil Paldhikar and others.