Metro’s poor restoration work turning roads into nightmare

Nagpur: MahaMetro’s shoddy quality of restoration work has turned city’s three busy roads — Wardha, North Ambazari and Central Avenue (CA) — into nightmare for the citizens. The stretches of these roads have become unsafe for motorists and are also witnessing traffic congestion.
After being pointed out by TOI, MahaMetro said it will undertake repairing works suo motu and also attend to complaints from the citizens about potholes on the roads.
Wardha Road is the most affected due to inferior quality of restoration. For construction of Metro Rail corridor between Rahate Colony Square and Air Force Station T-point, MahaMetro had blocked around 3m of road on two sides of the road divider. After completing the works, MahaMetro asphalted the areas and opened it for traffic.
A visit to Wardha Road from Rahate Colony Square to Air Force Station T-point revealed that a large number of potholes have surfaced in the restored areas. The situation is worse between Rajiv Nagar Square and Air Force Station T-point.
Another worry is that the area restored by MahaMetro in some stretches has become bumpy, which is invisible until one reaches the spot.
Activist TH Naidu told TOI that a few minor mishaps have occurred due to poor restoration work. “Vehicles’ speed is high on Wardha Road. Suddenly, the vehicle in front applies brake and take a turn seeing the pothole or bump, which causes mishap. It is the responsibility of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and state public works department (PWD) to initiate action against MahaMetro but no one is paying attention,” he said.
Chief engineer of PWD and NMC Ulhas Debadwar said a meeting will be organized with the officials of MahaMetro soon to avoid inconvenience to the people. “The area was not properly compressed, but the issue can be resolved,” he said.
The condition of two sides of Wardha Road in front of Sonegaon police station is very bad. MahaMetro has started works of ramp of the flyover before widening the road, making Wardha Troad narrow. The stretches also have potholes and bad surface layer.
Same is the condition of some stretches on North Ambazari Road and CA. Here, the number of potholes are less in restored areas as compared to Wardha Road, but the stretches have become bumpy.
Besides, MahaMetro has also opened a couple of stretches of North Ambazari Road for traffic without restoration. An example is the stretch between LAD Ssquare and Ambazari crematorium. Only gravel has been dumped into the dug up portion, which has started spreading on the remaining part of the road.
The restoration work has not been done properly even on the stretch between MahaMetro’s office to Akashwani Square where trenching was done for laying a power cable.
A MahaMetro said, “We are well aware of these issues and our dedicated team is all set to solve them. We routinely take stock of the road conditions. The repair and patch work is done wherever required. The works have been hampered due to continuous rains.”
From bad to worse
MahaMetro blocked around 3m area on two sides of road divider on Wardha Road, Central Avenue and North Ambazari Road
It restored these stretches and opened for traffic, excluding the areas where works are underway
A large number of potholes have surfaced on the restored area of Wardha Road
Even restored area have become bumpy at many places
Similar problems are on North Ambazari Road and Central Avenue
A couple of stretches on North Ambazari Road have been opened without restoration
State PWD and NMC have continued to neglect the problems