03 September 2021

This Is for our friend - Sqn Ldr (Dr) Ravi Harish Wankhede.

Dear Ravi, 
You have posted quite a few photos and videos of, Metro, Metro and the rainbow, Metro and beautiful colourful skies. 
Here is something in reverse from us 

Harsh Vardhan - As seen from the Metro. 


Harsh Vardhan - As seen from the Metro.  



Harsh Vardhan - As seen from the Metro. 


 





THEN and NOW

 

THEN - 29 May 2017


 
 NOW - 18 August 2021.
  

The Collage..

                                                                                                    

Unending Sad Story of Manholes and manhole covers..

Unednig Sad Story of Manholes.
Manholes are made to facilitate access to normal and storm drains for cleaning so that flow of water through these drains is smooth and they do not get blocked.
These manholes are covered with manhole covers to prevent accidental falls in the drain. At times such falls could result in fatal accidents. 
Unfortunately, with the bad design combined with substandard work, these manhole covers get dislodged as shown in these photos and become a source of a serious accident to happen. Such sights can be seen all over the city.


 

Work on the site of the second photo was completed very recently, just 15 days back. It is sad that so early after completion of work it has become dislodged  
I have repeatedly written about dangers caused by this. The latest writeup was my post at
https://velusr.blogspot.com/2021/06/death-trap-fatal-accident-waiting-to.html
 This story of unseating of manhole covers starts as long as one remembers. Despite repeated public efforts concerned authorities do not seem to rectify the situation. There seems to be no end to this story. 
For the life of me, I fail to understand why properly designed manholes and their covers that do NOT become dislodged are not installed.
If that is done it will prevent manholes from becoming potential accident spots. It will also avoid waste of public money, time and manpower spent in repeated repairs in case of such instances.   

31 August 2021

Zero Mile Freedom Park Metro Station.

Zero Mile Freedom Park Metro Station.
On 21 Aug 21, Union Cabinet Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Zero Mile Freedom Park Metro Station.
Video clipping taken on the occasion had gone viral on social media.
With very good visuals and glowing details like one of its kind, 20 storied metro station, With platforms at 4th and 5th story of the building etc. To add to this shots of Freedom park also looked beautiful. While watching the video we had decided that we must see it at an early date.
This video had created a lot of hype. So much so that Ajeet, Ulka and a few friends from all around India even sent us a video and links to it. That motivated us to do this trip as early as possible. Went for it on the 26th of August 2021.
Must say that the video had raised the expectations very high. As often happens. the reality does not match up with the expectations.

Zero Mile Freedom Park Metro Station.

Zero Mile Freedom Park Metro Station.

We travelled by blue line from Rachana Junction metro station to Sitabardi metro station. T Sitabardi metro station changed over to the orange line to go to Zero Mile Freedom Park Metro Station.
On arrival at Zero Mile Freedom Park Station when we got down on the platform we saw one worker was removing excess cement from the granite tile joints. We could see other workers giving finishing touches where required. Enquired from the worker, way to go up to 20th floor. We were told that the platform was on the 4th floor and nothing above that level was ready.
As it stands today, work is still going on to build the remaining floors of the building. Considering that the highest it has reached is the 4th-floor platform it may take quite a while to achieve the height to which this was raised in the video.
How the Zero Mile Freedom Park Metro Station will look when completed is shown on one of the photos displayed on the concourse. To look like that it may take another few years :-(

This is how Zero Mile Freedom Park Metro Station will look when completed


Descended to concourse level from the platform. Exited the station and descended further to ground level.
The approach roads to the station are not yet complete. May take a while to be completed. The station frontage itself is complete and looks very good and impressive.

Entrance / Exit - Zero Mile Freedom Park Metro Station.

Frontage- Zero Mile Freedom Park Metro Station.

Orange City Monument outside Zero Mile Freedom Park Metro Station.

Freedom Park.
To commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of 75 years of Independence (​आजादी का अमुत महोत्सव​)
I wish 75 was also written in Hindi.

When we went there to see Freedom park we were stopped by a security guard that the park is not open and people are not allowed to go there as work was in progress. When I was requesting him that we just wanted to have look and take some photos a supervisor overheard us, came and told the security guard to let us go. Very much thankful to him.
As per the info board, The Freedom park has :
1. History Wall.
2. Mahiti Kendra. 
3. Amphitheatre.
4. Water cascade.   

Freedom Park - information Board.



As the work was still not complete, other than the History Wall and the War Trophy we did not see anything else. 
Few photos of Freedom Park.

Freedom Park.

History Wall. Freedom Park.

History Wall. Freedom park.

War Trophy.  Freedom park.

Selfie. War Trophy.  Freedom park. 

While it is true that the said the video had raised our expectations very high, and frankly we were a bit disappointed on seeing that the reality is far different than the rosy picture painted in the video. 
Our long metro ride from Rachana Junction to Sitabardi metro station, Changing the line from 
Blue to orange. The huge concourses and multiple stories of Sitabardi station. Zero MIleFreedom Park Station itself was a revelation.  
Operationalising the Orange line from Khapari to Kasturchand Park. Operationalising the Blue line from Lokmanya Nagar to Cotton Market clearly revealed that what has been achieved has been a major accomplishment of which Nagpurians can be justifiably proud. 

About the ride in the next blog.
   
 


27 August 2021

Metro Ride and Freedom Park Metro Station.

Metro Ride and Freedom Park Metro Station. 
Went for a long metro ride and to see Freedom Park Metro Station inaugurated by Union Cabinet Minister Nitin Gadkari on 21 Aug 21. Ajeet, Ulka and a few friends even sent us videos released by news channels. Motivating us to do this trip as early as possible.
Reality as of now is far from what is shown in the video. But all in its own good time.
For now some useful info for Nagpur Metro travellers.
There are two main routes.

1 East-West Alignment.
Initially called Aqua-Line as it runs about 5 odd kilometres along Ambazari Lake. Now officially named "Blue Line"
Starts at Lokmanya Nagar ( near Hingana) and via Sitaburdi and will go on to terminate at Prajapati Nagar ( Near Pardi/RTO Nagpur East).
Stations on the Route are

On this Route Stations between and Including Lokmanya Nagar and Cotton Market are operational.

1. North-South Alignment.
Officially named "Orange Line"
Starts at Khapri ( from beyond the Airport) and via Sitaburdi and via Sitaburdi and will go on to terminate at Automotive Square. Metro Station. ( Near Automotive showroom and workshop)
Stations on the Route are


On this Route Stations between and Including Khapri and Kasturchand Park are operational.
CHANGE OVER FROM ONE LINE TO THE OTHER CAN BE DONE AT SITABARDI.

Part TWO Ride to and Freedom Park Metro Station.




21 August 2021

THEN & NOW PHOTOS.

THEN & NOW PHOTOS. 
Then and now photos of Metro Aqua Line near Kashit Building, Hingna- Amnazari Road.

27 May 2016.


18 August 2021.


Collage