Title - New railway under bridge, parking plaza ready but held up for CM's dates

NAGPUR: Two major development projects - Anand Talkies railway under bridge (RuB) and Variety Square multi-level car parking plaza - are ready to be thrown open to the public. However, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) have held up the inauguration to get dates from chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. But for this delay, the projects were to be inaugurated on Monday.NMC constructed the RuB near Anand Talkies square in Dhantoli under the Central government's ambitious JNNURM scheme. NIT constructed the parking plaza near Variety square at Sitabuldi on BOT model.NMC had announced the inauguration of the RuB at the hands of Chavan on Monday and even published invitation cards, but did not distribute them. NIT too was ready for a formal inauguration on Monday but has cancelled the plan due to the CM's packed schedule.Sources told TOI, "The projects will be opened only after formal inauguration. It seems NMC officials and office bearers had sought time from Chavan, but could not get final confirmation."

Confirming that the RuB project is ready for inauguration, leader of ruling party Praveen Datke said, "It would be very good if it is inaugurated by Chavan. But I personally believe no project should be held up for formal inauguration. RuB should be opened for public from Monday."

Similarly, NIT trustee Ravindra Bhoyar told TOI the parking plaza was complete and await Chavan's dates. "I too think the project should be thrown open for the public," he said.

However, NMC and NIT officials could not be contacted. Congress leaders too refused to comment on the issue.

Some politicians said, "Chavan is very serious about the city's development. It appears he was not told both projects were complete. He would have directed officials to inaugurate the projects for the public with any other chief guest."

It would be interesting to see whether the public unilaterally starts using the two projects, like the railway over bridge at Narendra Nagar and Mangalwari.