PWD contractor begins replacing concrete panels on Wardha Road

Nagpur: Taking cognizance of TOI’s report, the state public works department (national highway division) has started to cut and remove newly laid concrete panels on Wardha Road, to replace the defective panels. Many more such defective panels are yet to be identified on remaining stretch of the national highways in the city.
PWD contractor Drishti Constructions has blocked a part of Wardha Road between Airport Cargo T-point and Airport South Metro Rail Station, and started to cut the cement concrete panel.


A PWD engineer told TOI, “10 panels on this stretch will be removed and replaced by new ones after ensuring all necessary technical works. Inspection revealed 10 panels were defective and required replacement.”
The PWD contractor had concretized stretch from Airport Metro Rail Station to Chinchbhuvan railway over bridge (RoB) a few months ago. Almost all panels on both sides of the stretch are defective. Wide vertical and horizontal cracks have been developed along with potholes. At some places, patches of cement concrete panels have subsided, making the road undulating and causing sudden jerks to commuters.
TOI had on May 29 highlighted the PWD did not take any action against contractor and neither repaired defective panels to prevent mishaps and inconvenience to the people.
Unfortunately, PWD has directed the contractor to replace only 10 defective panels. Many more panels on both sides of this stretch are defective.
Similarly, there are many such bad panels between Airport T-point and Rahate Colony Square. PWD has continued to overlook the shoddy quality of works done on this stretch.
Another major problem of Wardha Road is inferior quality of works executed at points where other roads meet Wardha Road. Almost all patches are damaged to a great extent and turned into death traps.
The same is the condition of inter-locking tiles installed on T-points, squares and on both shoulders of the road. Still, PWD has continued to shield the contractor and not rectifying the problems within the defect liability period (DLP).
PWD sources said no action or penalty has been imposed on contractor for shoddy quality of works.
Activist Kunal Mourya demanded stringent action against project management consultant and PWD engineers.
“I happened to see the defective panels first and informed TOI. Government agencies came into action only after complaints. Actually, agencies should check quality of works during construction and also before issuance of bills. It will save public money as well as maintenance for 50 years as claimed by the ministers. Citizens face traffic jams, damage to vehicles etc during concretization. Again, the same has to be faced during repair works. Ultimately, the citizens are sufferers due to inferior quality of works,” he said.