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Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Skid & Bleed: Blame Cement Road & I-Block Gap
1 2 Nagpur: On Wednesday morning, a series of accidents on Ambazari Road again exposed a road design flaw that has worryingly become common across Nagpur: Uneven surface level of the main concrete road and adjoining interlocking (I) block patches. In a chilling video that has gone viral, residents can be seen pointing to the spot where five people — including an elderly man and woman — fell due to a deep gap and dangerous surface level difference. Locals even placed stones to prevent further mishaps. "This road is a trap. We've had enough," said a bystander, as a crowd gathered. As the video went viral, the state Public Works Department (PWD) hurriedly started repairing the road patch on Thursday afternoon. Workers were seen removing the I-blocks alongside the defective road and realigning it with the road height. This particular stretch was constructed by the PWD. Alarmingly, though, this road design flaw isn't a folly limited to only one agency. Similar conditions prevail across major stretches including Pratap Nagar, East High Court Road, Khamla, the Inner Ring Road, and Residency Road, owned by several agencies like Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), putting thousands of daily commuters at risk. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Swelling and internal bleeding in the brain, help this baby Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Two-wheeler riders are the worst affected, with tyres getting caught in gaping voids that remain hidden during rains. Tragically, it's a disaster fuelled by negligence, not ignorance. Over Rs 2,000 crore was spent by the NMC and other road-owning agencies to convert tar roads into cement concrete — touted as a durable, low-maintenance solution. But the problem lies in the poorly maintained I-block stretches constructed alongside cement roads, for future utility installations. Many of these patches have either sunk or developed wide gaps, creating an unending series of fall zones. To avoid bumpy rides over these sections, most two-wheeler riders stick to the smoother cement road. But when heavy vehicles approach from behind or the opposite direction, they are forced to veer left, often losing balance while transitioning onto the sunken I-blocks, resulting in crashes and injuries. In July 2024, the Bombay high court's Nagpur bench, comprising Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri, slammed the poor quality and alignment of many roads. The bench observed that even freshly laid cement roads were riddled with drainage issues, waterlogging, and poor design. The judges ordered the formation of an expert committee to address the problem, but ground realities remain unchanged. Following the court's strong remarks, NMC chief engineer Leena Upadhey assured that surveys would be conducted and followed by repairs. "We are identifying accident-prone areas caused by uneven I-blocks," she said. A year later, the promises remain unfulfilled. A senior traffic cop also admitted that the uneven transition between cement concrete surfaces and adjoining interlocking (I) blocks are causing accidents, and they would be approaching the NMC's traffic department and other road-owning agencies to correct the problem. Team TOI found major faults in areas like Ram Nagar, Great Nag Road, VIP Road, and North Ambazari Road, where multiple riders have been injured. "We've complained, sent videos, but nothing changes. Do they need someone to die before they act?" asked Ramesh Rangari, a resident of Imamwada. Experts from VNIT have urged the NMC to implement a Pavement Management System, a scientific approach to ensure surface level uniformity. Prof Vishrut Landge of VNIT's Civil Engineering Department said, "It's not just poor planning — it's administrative apathy. These roads are not fit for public use." He added that uneven surface levels are causing the accidents. "This can be repaired. The engineers have to pay attention while executing the work. More than 15mm of level difference causes such accidents if the vehicle speed is more than 25kmph. There must be a road safety audit of all roads to identify such faults."
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
HC Junks PIL Against Lloyds' Iron Ore Expansion In Gadchiroli, Flags Petitioner's Bona Fides
1 2 3 4 Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court recently dismissed two clubbed public interest litigations (PILs) challenging the expansion of iron ore mining by Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited in Gadchiroli. The court pointed out that the petition was filed by a person with no stakes in the matter, lacked locus standi and was acting without bona fides. A division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri rejected the pleas filed by Samarjeet Chatterjee, resident of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, and co-petitioner Vishesh Bhatpalliwar from Gadchiroli. The bench stated there was no substantive connection between the petitioners and affected population. It also noted no local resident or tribal community had objected to the environmental clearance (EC) and questioned the motive and timing of the PIL. "Merely claiming to be a social servant does not give the petitioner the locus standi to filed a PIL as he has not shown any nexus with the cause of such people, who live almost 300km away from his place of residence and that too in another state (Chhattisgarh)," the bench noted. The judges added the fact that the petitioner did not question the earlier public hearing, conducted at the district headquarters in 2005-06, and is now questioning the subsequent public hearing, sufficiently demonstrates he lacks bona fides in the matter of preferring the PIL. The HC also observed that it failed to understand the petitioner's source of funds for carrying out the legal battle, especially if he has an annual income of Rs4-5 lakh. The court noted that the petitioner claimed he gave up his profession as a mine contractor and travelled all the way to Maharashtra from Raipur in Chhattisgarh, where he is based. Aheri, where the plant is located, is more than 200 km from his place, said the court. Chatterjee, a former mining contractor, challenged the environmental clearances (EC) granted to Lloyds Metals in two stages — from 3 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 10 MTPA (2023) and then to 16 MTPA (2024). He alleged violations of EIA norms, improper public hearing, and non-compliance with environmental regulations. He sought to quash the terms of reference and clearances issued in 2022 and 2023 on grounds of procedural lapse under office memorandums dated April 2022 and July 2021 SOPs. However, the court noted the public hearing at the Gadchiroli district headquarters on October 27, 2022, was legally valid, widely publicised, and attended by a large number of local representatives and citizens. It also cited the Maoist threat in the mining zones for not conducting the hearing at the actual site. The bench acknowledged that Lloyds earlier operated without a fresh environment clearance post-2011, but later complied fully with the 2021 standard operating procedure, paid a ₹5.48 crore penalty, furnished a ₹26.64 crore bank guarantee. The environment clearance for 10 MTPA was then granted on February 24, 2023, followed by the terms of reference for 16 MTPA on November 26, 2024. Calling such PILs "a tool for personal vendetta" and not a genuine public interest action, the court invoked Supreme Court rulings to underscore the need to curb misuse of PILs. Lloyds, through counsel Raghav Bhandakkar, argued it created 2,000 jobs and contributed ₹2,000 crore in royalties to the District Mineral Fund, and 80% project execution was already complete. Finding no merit in the plea, the court refused to interfere with the environmental approvals and dismissed both PILs. **Key Takeaways from HC Verdict** - Petitioner had no local standing or public interest. - Lloyds Metals paid ₹5.48 crore penalty for prior EC lapse. - Environmental clearance for 10 MTPA upheld as per SOP - Public hearing held as per guidelines, no irregularity found. - 2,000 jobs and ₹2,000 crore royalty cited as development impact. - Relied on SC rulings to warn against "luxury litigation." - No locals objected to project
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Nod to GMCH's linear accelerator in 3 weeks, HC told
Nagpur: After a prolonged delay, the Maharashtra govt assured the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court that it would grant fresh administrative approval within three weeks for the installation of a linear accelerator machine at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for cancer treatment, regardless of the escalated cost.A division bench of Justices Avinash Gharote and Abhay Mantri, hearing a suo motu PIL on poor infrastructure at GMCH and Mayo Hospital, directed the Medical Education and Drugs Department, the GMCH dean, and Maharashtra Medical Goods Procurement Authority to begin procurement immediately and complete it within four weeks. The court stressed that orders must be placed as soon as administrative approval is granted."This has already dragged on too long without any tangible outcome," the bench remarked, while directing authorities to also apply for all necessary licences from competent authorities within a week to avoid further procedural Government Pleader Deepak Thakare submitted a letter from the state dated May 6, stating that a new administrative nod would be issued within three weeks. "Whatever the cost may be, a new administrative approval for installation of the linear accelerator will be issued within the stipulated time," he told the machine's original sanctioned cost was Rs23.20 crore, but with a 35% tax imposed by the central govt, the final cost rose to Rs45 crore. Last month, the court directed the state to allocate an additional Rs25 crore to bridge the funding gap. It pointed out that while Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar GMCH has two such machines, Nagpur has none, thus affecting the cancer the last hearing, the Nagpur district administration informed that it was unable to arrange the additional Rs25 crore required for the procurement of a linear accelerator for the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). This was due to the exhaustion of available funds and an escalation in equipment Advocate Firdos Mirza appeared for the state, Anup Gilda assisted the court as amicus curiae, and Advocate Sudhir Puranik represented the NMRDA. The next hearing is scheduled for June 10.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
NMC faces 1 cr penalty for ignoring HC orders on rehab
Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday lashed out at the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for failing to act on its repeated directives related to the rehabilitation of licensee vendors displaced by the Ganesh Tekdi railway station parking plaza project. The division bench comprising Justices Avinash Gharote and Abhay Mantri warned that it was inclined to impose a penalty of 1 cr on the civic body for its "insensitive" conduct and disregard for court court was hearing a petition filed by Syed Sakir Ali Abdul Ali and 34 others through Counsel Mahesh Dhatrak, who challenged the prolonged delay in implementing a revised proposal under Section 37 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) proposal, crucial for rehabilitating affected shopkeepers, was to be submitted by NMC to the state govt as directed by the court on February 27. However, as of May 5, the civic body failed to send the required proposal.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Time of India
Nagpur: HC orders demolition of encroachment on road, fines developer
NAGPUR : The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Tuesday ordered Nirmal Ujjwal Credit Co-operative Society to demolish illegal constructions —including a substation, transformer, and water treatment plant — erected on a 24-metre-wide Development Plan (DP) road in a township at mouza Harpur on Umred Road . The court also imposed a Rs5 lakh fine, directing it be paid to Raman Science Centre and Planetarium within one week. A division bench comprising justices Avinash Gharote and Abhay Mantri was hearing a petition filed by local resident Pranali Puttewar. The court found that despite the society's undertaking in 2019 to remove the encroachments, it failed to act, in violation of prior directives and land-use laws. Rejecting arguments that the structures served residents and involved no commercial exploitation, the court held that construction on land earmarked as a public road under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act cannot be justified or regularised without a formal modification of the development plan. The bench cited the 2017 demolition notice issued by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and emphasised that the society knowingly encroached on land meant for public use. It further dismissed the society's reliance on the Gunthewari Act, ruling that the layout approvals were not granted under its provisions. The court concluded that allowing such encroachments would set a dangerous precedent, undermining urban planning. It directed that the illegal structures be removed within four months, with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) providing assistance. Should the society fail to act, the NMC must carry out the demolition within a reasonable time thereafter. "We cannot condone the illegality committed by the society of making illegal construction of substation/transformer/water treatment plant on the land of 24 meters wide DP road, as it would be setting an absolutely bad precedent, on the basis of which, builders would have a free hand to present a fait accompli, after having committed an illegality," the judges said while allowing the petition.
