A striking video from Nagpur has taken social media by storm, showing a rather unsettling sight — an under-construction flyover cutting straight through the balcony of a residential building. The clip, which quickly went viral, has sparked widespread public concern and raised pointed questions about the state of urban planning and the quality of infrastructure development in Indian cities. Citizens, urban experts, and civic bodies alike are now scrutinizing how such a situation could arise in the first place, with many calling it a glaring example of poor foresight in construction and planning.
The flyover at the center of this controversy is part of the Indora-Dighori corridor project in the Ashok Nagar locality of Nagpur. This stretch is being developed under the supervision of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as a major urban connectivity initiative. While the project is aimed at improving traffic flow and easing congestion in the growing city, the manner in which construction has been executed — bringing it dangerously close to a residential structure — has made residents uneasy and fueled debates about whether due diligence and safety norms were adequately followed during the planning phase.
In response to the uproar, an NHAI official clarified the agency’s position during an interaction with the media. Speaking to PTI, the official explained that the balcony in question is not part of the original building layout but rather an encroachment that juts out illegally into government land. He emphasized that the flyover’s beams are not actually intruding into the main structure, asserting, “Our flyover is not inside the outer portion of the balcony. The balcony concerned is part of an encroachment, and we have already written to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to remove it.” According to him, the matter will be resolved once the encroached section is cleared, a process which, he added, is already in motion.
The house owner, however, contested the claims made by the authorities. Speaking to local reporters, the resident stated that although a rotary beam from the flyover does appear to slice through the balcony area, it does not physically touch the structure of the building itself. He explained that the section of the balcony in question is unused space, essentially a no-man’s land, with no impact on daily living conditions. The resident further pointed out that the flyover is elevated some 14 to 15 feet above ground level and insisted that there is no imminent threat to safety for those occupying the property.
Despite these differing narratives, the video footage itself paints a troubling picture. Clips widely circulated on social media platforms clearly show the flyover beam uncomfortably close to the residential unit, raising alarm among viewers. For many, it is not just the technical question of encroachment or clearance but also the visual proximity of massive infrastructure to a private dwelling that intensifies concerns. The images have become symbolic of the larger issue of haphazard construction practices and inadequate safeguards in India’s rapidly urbanizing cities.
A senior official from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation later weighed in on the matter, offering additional context. He confirmed that the building had previously been leased to the current landowner and that the authorities are now conducting a review of the lease agreements to determine their validity. “Once the lease status is verified, appropriate action will be taken to vacate the premises, following due procedure,” the official noted. This suggests that the civic body may soon take steps either to demolish or alter the structure in question to make way for the flyover’s completion.
Beyond the immediate dispute between the homeowner, the NHAI, and the municipal corporation, the incident has reignited a much larger and recurring debate. As Indian cities expand and infrastructure projects multiply, the challenge of balancing development with residential safety becomes more pressing. This particular case from Nagpur highlights the urgent need for clearer land use policies, stronger oversight in project planning, and transparent coordination between local governing bodies and central agencies. Experts argue that without such reforms, incidents like this are likely to recur, undermining both public trust and the long-term sustainability of urban development.
