Nagpur: A fresh round of digging at the Bajaj Nagar Square traffic island, developed by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), has raised concerns among commuters and residents alike. According to a NMC source, the excavation was necessitated by an issue linked to underground sewage infrastructure.The traffic island project had earlier faced criticism over poorly designed left-turn lanes and unusually large speed-breakers that disrupted vehicular movement. These speed breakers had to be partially dismantled shortly after installation. The digging activity undertaken on Sunday near the speed breaker section has reignited the debate.Commuters expressed frustration over the recurring disruptions. “Every few weeks, something or the other work is taken up here. It feels like the project was rushed without proper planning,” said a local resident and daily commuter Krishna Madurwar.The traffic island, introduced as an experimental urban design, had initially drawn attention for its unconventional construction using cobblestones instead of conventional tar or cement surfacing. While civic authorities had projected it as an innovative step towards traffic calming and aesthetic improvement, citizens remained skeptical about its practicality from the outset.“The earlier cement base laid near the speed breaker had inadvertently blocked a sewage chamber that handles significant flow. This led to choking and operational issues. The affected portion had to be opened up to decongest the chamber and carry out repair work,” the official told TOI.The official clarified that the work was taken up by the NMC Dharampeth zone team and was scheduled strategically on a Sunday afternoon to minimise traffic disruption. “This is a temporary issue. The repair work is already underway and is expected to be completed by Monday, after which normal traffic movement will resume,” he added.
