Potholes dot city, but NMC repairs roads outside Hyderabad House
Ironically, the upkeep of Hyderabad House falls under the state Public Works Department (PWD), but it was the civic body that carried out the repair work.
Soon after, on June 25, NMC shut its hotmix plant for the entire monsoon, citing seasonal restrictions. The plant will now remain closed until September 30. "In its absence — Jet Patcher and Insta Patcher — have been roped in for temporary pothole filling," an official from the department confirmed.
However, their limited capacity has raised concerns, especially as complaints continue to pour in from across the city.
Zone-wise data accessed by TOI shows a worrying trend. While May saw a dip in complaints at 249, June recorded a spike with 525, nearly matching April's 550. Mangalwari zone topped the list with 159 complaints in June, followed by Dharampeth (82), Laxmi Nagar (70), and Hanuman Nagar (54). Even zones like Satranjipura, which saw zero complaints in April and May, reported 18 last month.
The deteriorating condition of roads — especially in the city's peripheral areas — has become a major concern. Many of these stretches fall under the jurisdiction of the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) and state PWD, but citizens say both agencies have abdicated responsibility.
Legislators too have voiced their frustration. Several MLAs are pressuring NMC's hotmix department to take up immediate repairs rather than getting the work either through the District Planning and Development Council (DPDC) or from the concerned road-owning agencies.
"The financial burden on NMC is increasing because neither NIT nor the state PWD is acting. Yet, the same NMC resurfaced roads outside Hyderabad House which isn't even its responsibility," said a senior civic official.
The decision to prioritise a VIP address while regular citizens struggle with crater-ridden roads has sparked anger. Motorists are facing daily ordeals on pothole-laced stretches, with waterlogging adding to the danger during rains. "This is nothing but misuse of civic machinery for VIP comfort," said former corporator Manoj Sangole. "If the PWD couldn't maintain roads outside CM's secretariat, why should NMC's limited resources be diverted, especially during the peak of road damage season?"
Road repairs in outer areas — including Narsala, Dabha, Wathoda, and Hudkeshwar — continue to remain neglected.
Even the state PWD reportedly failed to maintain stretches under its jurisdiction across the city. With monsoon showers intensifying and pothole numbers rising daily, residents fear a complete collapse of road infrastructure unless urgent interventions are made.
The glaring mismatch between civic priorities and ground realities has become impossible to ignore — with NMC once again facing public criticism for failing to serve its core constituents.
Potholes Galore
Zones---April---May---June
Laxmi Nagar---31---0---70
Dharampeth---73---29---82
Hanuman Nagar---16---27---54
Dhantoli---76---24---29
Nehru Nagar---33---41---19
Gandhibagh---108---57---31
Satranjipura---0---0---18
Lakadganj---15---23---5
Ashi Nagar---117---11---58
Mangalwari---81---37---159
Total---550---249---525
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