NMC claims 3,654 potholes repaired, but many roads still giving nightmare to motorists

Nagpur: Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) claims to have repaired 3,654 potholes in the first three months of current fiscal. Yet, the effort seems to have fallen short in many pothole-ridden areas of the city.
TOI found many busy roads like Jaiprakash Nagar road, Pardi Road, and even internal roads in several localities in the city in bad shape. Data compiled by NMC’s hotmix department reveals that from April to June, the department repaired total potholed area of 91,302.37sqm across the city.
The highest numbers of potholes were repaired in Laxmi Nagar zone. Here, the department repaired 742 potholes. The Dhantoli zone was second in terms of potholes repaired at 450, followed by Mangalwari at 447.
A classic case of potholed road is a patch from Wardhaman Nagar to Prajapati Nagar. “This road has not been repaired for last many years as NHAI is constructing a flyover there,” pointed out NCP corporator Duneshwar Pethe. As a result, the motorists, especially two-wheeler riders, are facing severe hardships. According to him, incidents of two-wheeler riders skidding have increased manifold. Despite bringing this to the notice of NMC’s hotmix department, no measures have been taken to ensure pothole-free roads.
He also claimed that internal roads in Prabhag 23 comprising Padole Nagar, Wathoda, Trimurti Nagar, Wardhaman Nagar etc were in bad shape. Even cement road from Jai Bhim Chowk to Shastri Nagar has developed potholes, he claimed.
The roads in North Nagpur are in dire need of NMC’s attention. Youth Congress activists from here have protested by planting saplings in potholes between Vandevi Nagar and Yashodhara Nagar. Despite complaints, NMC failed to repair the potholes where too two-wheeler riders are getting injured, claimed Youth Congress leader Sheikh Shahnawaz.
Congress corporator Pranita Shane pointed out the road from Ekatmata Nagar to Jaitala Chowk was in a bad shape. She claimed that after two years of continuous follow-up, BJP ruled NMC had cleared the recarpeting of the road. The work will commence after monsoon, she said.
Shahnawaz demanded criminal action against officials of NMC’s public works department for ignoring repair of potholes and carrying out substandard works. He pointed out everyone engaged with the construction of city roads, ie contractors, supervisors, engineers should be held responsible for quality of construction and maintenance. According to him, there should be action for negligence causing death or serious injury.
A senior official from hotmix department said repairing of potholes was a continuous work and on receipt of complaints, many potholes were repaired.