Gadkari brings Rs1,824cr central road funds for city projects

Nagpur: With Union minister Nitin Gadkari’s efforts, the city has received Rs1,824 crore from the Central Roads Fund (CRF) for various roads. For Maharashtra, the minister has managed to bring total Rs9,897 crore CRF funds for 584 projects in the last seven years of the BJP-led NDA government. Of these, 201 projects have been completed.
During his recent visit to TOI, the city MP said Rs1,824 crore was the highest ever funds received till date in Nagpur from the Centre for 22 works undertaken in various areas.
As per details shared by the minister’s advisor Balasaheb Theng, who is former PWD chief engineer, four projects have been completed and 11 were on the verge of completion. Tenders for five works have been floated while the rest were in progress.
The major works under CRF included concretisation of ever busy road from Jaistambh Square to Manas Square, which is 3.63km in length. For this project, Rs234.21 crores were approved, which also included beautification of both squares, a flyover and railway underbridge. “Mahametro has been entrusted with the work and its deadline is December 31 this year,” the minister told TOI.
A spectators’ gallery of 4,000 capacity at Futala lake, one of Gadkari’s dream projects, is also being built from Rs112.89 crore CRF funds. A parking plaza for vehicles would be constructed here. The minister told TOI there would be a food mall spread over three floors with a viewing gallery at the venue. This work too has been delegated to Mahametro with the same deadline of December 31.
Another major project is widening of busy roads located in market areas like Gandhi Putla, Kelibagh, Tulsibagh passing through Reshimbagh Square, which stretches 3.30km. An amount of Rs58.69 crore has been allocated for the project, whose work is underway and its deadline is February 27, 2022.
Even the highly congested Old Bhandara Road stretching 4.30km would be broadened from Rs70 crore received under CRF. Though the tender has been finalised, its work couldn’t be started as Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is yet to provide additional land for its expansion. The road would be widened from Mayo Hospital to Hotel Sunil at Satranjipura.