The Raipur residents will get a huge relief from the traffic congestion as the new Kachna Overbridge is to be opened for public use on Friday. Vishnu Deo Sai will be the Chief Guest for the overbridge in the evening with the Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao.
As per the officials of the Public Works Department, the cost of constructing the overbridge is estimated to be almost ₹49 crore. In March 2022, the project was approved and in September 2023, the official work order was issued. The bridge construction was expected to be completed within 18 months, however, delays were experienced due to pending approvals from the railway authorities for the design, installation of girders and slabs on top of the railway tracks.
The overbridge is likely to make a significant contribution in making the connectivity between Shankarnagar and Khamhardih easier and smoother due to the fact that both these areas experience heavy traffic flow on a daily basis. Continuous trains were operating on the Raipur-Waltair railway line, often causing long traffic jams because of the frequent closure of the railway crossing Kachna.Frequent closure of the railway crossing of Kachna due to continuous railway traffic movement was leading to long traffic jams and inconvenience for the commuters.
The authorities hope that with the overbridge functioning, traffic would flow smoothly and speedy in the area.
Meanwhile, between Khamhardih and Kachna, traffic will be fully prohibited from 5 pm to 8 pm, as traffic will be jammed during the inauguration function. Raipur Traffic Police has stated a special diversion plan and urged people to steer clear of the road during the event unless it is of an urgent need. Alternative entry/exit points at Shriram Nagar Overbridge, Ashoka Ratan and BSNL area are arranged which helps in managing traffic efficiently.