Nagpur: Incessant rain over the past few days has slowed infrastructure works across Nagpur, with some projects coming to a temporary halt. Officials fear the continuing spell may delay several projects, particularly those facing tight completion deadlines.Among the worst hit is the Rs998-crore Indora-Dighori flyover project, targeted to open to traffic by August 1. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project comprises two flyovers — one connecting Kamal Chowk with Reshimbagh Square and the other linking Bhande Plot Square with Dighori Naka.According to a senior NHAI official, continuous rain has hampered construction of the reinforced earth (RE) retaining wall near Daga Hospital. “We are already racing against a tight deadline to open the project. Rain has created hurdles, but work that is not weather-dependent is continuing,” the official told TOI.Rain has also brought work on the Rs150-crore RBI Square–Automotive Square road concretisation project to a standstill. Engineers said fresh concrete cannot be laid during continuous rain, forcing the contractor to suspend operations.“Work has remained suspended for the last two days as concreting cannot be carried out in the current weather. We are also facing difficulties repairing potholes on the stretch. We now plan to undertake pothole repairs at night using techniques that require less water in the concrete mix,” a Public Works Department (PWD) official said. The official added that labourers have also expressed concerns about working in heavy rain.Construction on the Wardha Road concretisation project has also slowed. PWD executive engineer Sanjeev Jagtap said project schedules account for the monsoon, but activities such as concreting and bitumen work cannot be carried out during rainfall.Apart from these projects, road concretisation in Pratap Nagar, pipeline-laying in South Nagpur, Besa and Beltarodi, and flyover construction in East Nagpur have also been affected. Several private infrastructure projects have reported similar disruptions due to waterlogging, slippery conditions and repeated rain interruptions.Officials said contractors are continuing activities that are not directly dependent on weather. However, if the current spell persists, completion timelines for several projects may have to be revised. The delays could also disrupt traffic management plans, civic works and public convenience, especially for projects slated for completion before the end of the monsoon.
