Around 50% of 12 metre or wider roads in city still have potholes

Nagpur: Around 50% of 12-metre-wide and above roads in the city are in bad condition and full of potholes. The city has around 113 tar roads which are 12-metre-wide or above. Of them, 56 roads are in bad shape, according to a report compiled by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s public works department.
Highest number of bad tar roads are situated under Lakadganj zone where 11 out of 9 roads are in bad condition and roads in Hanuman Nagar area are in the best condition with just one out of 11 are bad shape. The hotmix department claimed to have carried out patchwork on most of the roads in Lakadganj zone.
In Gandhibagh zone, there are around 15 tar roads of 12-metre-wide or above. The department have repaired seven but nine roads are still in bad condition. In Mangalwari zone too eight of 10 roads are in bad condition. Though the department has carried out patchwork in almost all stretches but five are in worst condition and need complete renovation.
Under Dharampeth zone, of the 27 different stretches, six roads are in worst condition.
Sources in the NMC blamed the elected representatives for the worsening condition of roads in the city. “They only concentrate and ensure pothole-free roads in residential areas, while the major thoroughfares remain negligected,” sources said.
A senior official from the NMC’s PWD said that the civic body has taken up the job of repairing potholes on war-footing basis.
“Besides, this we have shortlisted 14 roads which will be renewed completely,” he said, while there are proposals to convert four tar roads into cement concretization. Similarly, Nagpur Improvement Trust and state’s public works department too will either renew the existing tar roads or may convert them into cement roads, the official said.
The code of conduct imposed for MLC election has also affected the renewal of several roads in the city. The tender invitation process of many roads got stalled due to the model code of conduct came into force, admitted the official.
To a query, the official said that in anticipation of the MLC polls, the NMC had completed the tender process of renovation of Civil Lines roads. Even the work is under progress, the official said.