Janmanch’s pothole repair protest to remind civic officials their duty

Nagpur: In a novel way to protest against civic agencies and administration, which have shrugged off its responsibility to fill potholes, city-based NGO Janmanch on Monday offered a quick fix solution using cement concrete mix and filled potholes.
As many as 50 potholes were filled in 8-hour-long drive by the NGO during which around 6 cubic meter ready-mix concrete was used.
Armed with concrete-mixer truck and a list of pothole-ridden roads, provided by Nagpur city traffic police, Janmanch members started the drive from busy Indora Square. “The aim is to provide pothole-free roads in Nagpur city,” said Janmanch president Pramod Pande and vice-president Rajeev Jagtap.
A senior traffic police officer said the potholes posed a serious threat to motorists, especially two-wheeler riders, following which the cops had approached the municipal corporation and other government agencies that owned city roads including Nagpur Improvement Trust, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and state’s public works department for getting these repaired.
According to a survey carried out by the city traffic police personnel from eight zones, the city roads had 32 accident-prone spots posing danger to not only motorists but also to pedestrians due to damaged footpaths. “Despite our efforts, nobody paid heed,” the cop said.
As nothing changed, the NGO approached deputy commissioner of police (traffic) G Rajmane and offered help. Subsequently, the traffic police provided the NGO with a list of pothole-ridden roads under its eight zones.
The NGO hired a concrete-mixer truck and got the potholes in several localities repaired. Jagtap said the initiative was started to prevent road accidents and make government officials realize their responsibility.
Local residents were surprised to see NGO volunteers filling the potholes. Sanjay Bhanot, who runs a grocery shop at Nelson Square, told TOI that some agency had dug up the road to lay cables. After the work, the agency did not restore the road and the spot turned into an accident-prone one. “Every day at least 10 to 15 two-wheeler riders sustained injuries on the patch due to uneven road,” he claimed.
The NGO’s move was much appreciated on the patch between Sardar Patel Square and Kamgar Nagar Square as the stretch is full of potholes.
To a query, Jagtap claimed that the NGO has requested residents of the area to ensure curing of the spots where volunteers have carried out the patchwork.
Jagtap said Janmanch would continue to fill potholes if the officials concerned failed to act even after the drive.
Disclosing the process, the office-bearer said the NGO volunteers cleaned the potholes and filled it with ready to use concrete-mix. The entire process took only about 5 to 10 minutes and traffic was restored soon thereafter.