Union Minister Nitin Gadkari visited Jharkhand on Wednesday to inaugurate the 4.18 km Ratu Road Elevated Corridor in Ranchi, constructed at a cost of Rs 558 crore to ease traffic congestion. During his visit, he also laid the foundation stone and dedicated nine national highway projects collectively worth over Rs 3.8 billion.Earlier in the day, Gadkari reached Garhwa to inaugurate a bypass road developed for Rs 1.13 billion. He also laid the foundation stone for the 32-kilometre NH 43 four-lane highway stretching from the Chhattisgarh border to Gumla, with construction estimated at Rs 1.33 billion.The projects inaugurated and laid foundations for include:Construction of a high-level bridge over the Damodar River and a railway overbridge (ROB) at Bhaura railway crossingTwo-lane paved shoulder widening from Murgatal to ManpurEight high-level bridges in Simdega districtFour-lane road development from the Chhattisgarh-Jharkhand border to Gumla and from Palma to GumlaThe Ratu Road elevated corridor within Ranchi cityTwo-lane paved shoulder widening from Barahat to Tulsipur in JharkhandFour-lane construction of the Barhi-Koderma sectionTwo-lane paved shoulder widening from Godda to SundarpahadiRoad widening in Giridih cityFour-lane construction from Shankha to KhajuriModifications to city traffic routesTo facilitate the inauguration, Ranchi traffic police implemented temporary changes: from 8 am to 10 pm, large cargo vehicles are prohibited from entering the city, while small cargo vehicles are banned from 9 am to 5 pm. Entry of all cargo vehicles, four-wheelers, and buses from Kathitand, Ratu, and Tilta towards Pandra, Piska More, and New Market is completely barred, with exceptions made only for school buses and ambulances.Image source:https://newsdotz.com/Vehicles from Kathitand and Ratu heading to Piska More must detour via Tilta Chowk onto the ring road. Additionally, vehicle movement is banned on key routes including New Market Square to SBI Main Branch Court and Zakir Hussain Park turn to Randhir Verma Square, with alternate diversions provided via Radium Square and other junctions.Entry from Shaheed Square and Upper Bazar towards Kishori Yadav Square is also prohibited, while four-wheelers are restricted to ATI Bus Stand from Kathal Turn to Piska Turn.Notably, the Ratu Road Elevated Corridor is the first National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project to incorporate bulletproof barriers. The section near Raj Bhavan, extending from Naga Baba Khatal to Kishori Singh Yadav Chowk, features bulletproof, soundless, and view-cutter barriers. These are designed to enhance security around Raj Bhavan and reduce noise pollution for nearby residents, offices, shops, clinics, hospitals, and schools, ensuring minimal disturbance from passing vehicles.Image Link: