First phase of Rs332 crore Ajni Laxman Jhula bridge likely to miss pre-monsoon deadline

Nagpur: The first phase of the much-awaited six-lane twin cable-stayed bridge, also called ‘Laxman Jhula' in Ajni, is likely to miss its pre-monsoon completion deadline, with substantial work pending at the site.The Rs332crore project is being constructed to replace the 125-year-old British-era Ajni railway overbridge (RoB). The project is being executed by Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC), also known as MahaRail, on the lines of the Ram Jhula near Nagpur railway station.Under the first phase, one side of the bridge, comprising three lanes, is being constructed to accommodate two-way traffic. The second carriageway will later be built after demolishing the existing Ajni bridge. Once both sides are constructed, each side will accommodate one-way traffic.The project has witnessed repeated delays due to multiple hurdles, including design modifications necessitated by parallel infrastructure works in the area, complicated construction over a busy railway line, and delays in obtaining statutory permissions for the cable-stayed structure.According to sources, MRIDC has completed construction of two major abutments on either side of the railway tracks, while work on the central pylon is currently underway."There are three supports for the bridge, out of which two have been completed, while work on the middle one is ongoing. The remaining pylon work is expected to take approximately one month. Meanwhile, pre-casting of the slabs has been done, and girders are also getting ready," said a source.Despite progress on key structural components, several crucial works are pending. While MRIDC is yet to officially announce a revised timeline, sources indicate that completion of the first phase could now extend until the end of the year.The existing Ajni RoB, situated between Ajni and Khapri railway stations on the Nagpur-Wardha section of Central Railway, has long become a major traffic bottleneck after outliving its design life. Construction of the replacement bridge commenced in April 2023. MahaRail originally targeted Oct 2025 for opening one side of the bridge, which was subsequently pushed to March 2026 and later to the pre-monsoon period. However, a visit by TOI to the site revealed that considerable work remains to be completed, making it unlikely that the revised deadline will be met.Once completed, the twin cable-stayed bridge is expected to significantly ease congestion and improve connectivity between South and Central Nagpur. The bridge is also being projected as an architectural landmark for the city, featuring LED theme lighting, footpaths on both sides, and designated selfie points.A major advantage of the project is that traffic diversions have not been required during construction, as the bridge is being built in phases alongside the existing structure.The bridge was designed by a Taiwan-based firm and later approved by IIT Bombay. However, the technically complex nature of the cable-stayed structure and the need for multiple approvals have contributed to the delay in its execution.