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Time of India
2 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Rainwater Ebbs, Sinkholes Get Deeper: Broken Roads Sets NMC Hotline Abuzz
1 2 Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is flooded with complaints as roads across the city have broken apart following three days of incessant rainfall. The civic body's hotmix department is overwhelmed, receiving hundreds of distress calls and online grievances about pothole-ridden stretches across the city. "In the last 10 days, the NMC's online portal received 106 complaints related to bad roads with a majority of these received in the last couple of days," said an official from NMC's grievance redressal cell. With the NMC's hotmix plant shut during monsoon, emergency repairs are being carried out using Jetpatcher and Insta Patcher machines, but these temporary measures are proving inadequate. In areas with no stormwater drainage or clogged outflows, waterlogging has worsened the road, leading to formation of dangerous crater-sized potholes. Key trouble spots like the Gaddigodam gurudwara underpass and the road near Loha Pul, approach roads to Automotive Square, have become nearly unmotorable. "Even a short ride has turned into a back-breaking journey," said Vishal Chauhan, a resident of Shanti Nagar. Several arterial and internal roads are no different, with complaints piling up every hour. TOI has consistently reported on the poor state of city roads, with the current monsoon spell exposing infrastructure failure and neglect. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gentle Japanese hair growth method for men and women's scalp Hair's Rich Learn More Undo A senior official from the hotmix department said repairs are underway at several points. "We patched the Mangalwari bazar stretch, started work at Ganeshpeth bus stand, and are attending to the Zero Mile and Ashoka Chowk area — though some stretches have ongoing cable-laying work that complicates restoration," the official said. Even roads which were dug up for pipeline or stormwater networks were not restored properly. Now, complaints of uneven stretches too have increased, said the official, citing the example of online road restoration work near Police Line Lake. Due to heavy traffic during the day, the NMC is now planning night shifts for patchwork in high-density areas. "We began early-morning repairs, but to avoid congestion and safety issues, night patching is being prioritised," he added. Still, residents say the damage reflects deeper systemic flaws. "The monsoon hits every year — why aren't roads built to last? Where's the drainage plan? These are not new problems," asked Ajeet Singh, a resident of Palloti Nagar. Given the poor state of most of the city's tar roads, the crisis is far from over. Unless NMC moves beyond patchwork and addresses the root causes — poor drainage, bad road design, and lack of coordination between departments — citizens will continue to pay the price in broken vehicles, injuries, and lost time.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Potholes dot city, but NMC repairs roads outside Hyderabad House
Nagpur: Even as battered roads across Nagpur triggered 1,324 pothole-related complaints in just three months, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) deployed its hotmix plant to resurface roads outside Hyderabad House — the Chief Minister's Nagpur secretariat. 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 Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
