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Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Civic Apathy Leaves Electric Posts in Middle of Roads, Accidents Mount
Nagpur: Despite years of public outcry, road accidents, and even strictures from the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court, hundreds of electric poles still stand dangerously in the middle of roads across the city. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), in its 2025-26 budget, finally earmarked Rs25 crore for resolving this long-standing issue. However, proposals worth only Rs22.5 crore are under process and tenders for just two of the eight locations are ready to be issued. The lackadaisical attitude puts question marks on the administration's commitment to citizen safety. The root of the crisis lies in decades of poor coordination between different agencies. Roads under the Integrated Road Development Programme (IRDP) were laid without shifting electric poles, leaving them directly in the path of vehicles. Cement roads built by the state Public Works Department (PWD) and even NMC hired contractors followed the same flawed pattern. Civil Lines, Telangkhedi, and stretches from Zingabai Takli to Godhani are glaring examples of such criminal oversight, where motorists dodge past danger posed by poles standing bang in the middle of roads. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Click Here Undo Now, amid mounting pressure, a joint survey by NMC's electrical department and MSEDCL ( Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited ) has been ordered to identify all such poles. The plan includes converting overhead conductors to underground cabling and shifting LT (low-tension) consumer cables to the road sides. The HT (high-tension) cables too will be laid underground in areas where possible. Yet, the urgency the issue demands seems to be missing. Even after the high court took suo motu cognizance in Jan 2021 and asked NMC and MSEDCL to submit a detailed report on such poles, progress remained painfully slow. The court, alarmed by the fatal consequences of this negligence, ordered immediate steps for shifting these poles and warned against bureaucratic lethargy. However, several projects moved ahead without addressing the obstruction, exposing citizens to continuous risk. "There is no dearth of funds, just a lack of accountability," says a senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We have had budgetary allocations for years, but unless there is real coordination between the electrical and civil wings, accidents will keep happening." Indeed, many of these poles, especially those on newly concretised roads, have turned into permanent hazards. Locals from Godhani Road say they've lost count of the number of two-wheeler crashes in the past two years. "We've even put reflectors on some poles," said Vijendra Kale, a resident of Suman Nagari, "but nothing moves unless there's a court rap." While tenders for eight locations have been processed, only two are on the cusp of being floated — a worrying sign considering the city has over 500 such poles, according to unofficial estimates. With the civic elections around the corner and political heat rising, citizens are demanding immediate on-ground action. "We are tired of announcements. Just remove the poles before another life is lost," said locals.
Express Tribune
12-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
M-12 motorway cost swells six times to Rs71b
Listen to article The delay in land acquisition for motorway project M-12 (Sialkot-Kharian) and an unprecedented increase in inflation and Karachi Inter-bank Offered Rate (Kibor) have caused a massive rise of six times in the cost of the project to Rs71 billion. Sources in the National Highway Authority (NHA) told The Express Tribune that construction cost of the project stood at Rs22.5 billion initially in 2021 that jumped up to Rs71 billion for six lanes by December 2024. They said that NHA chairman, in a recent high-level meeting, informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that due to the realignment of road from the original Request for Proposal (RFP), prompted by the hydraulic model study for a bridge at the Chenab River, there was a delay in land acquisition for the realigned portion. He said that additional delays were caused by changes in scope and an unprecedented increase in inflation and Kibor. As a result, the concessionaire submitted a request to NHA for renegotiation of the public-private partnership (PPP) agreement in November 2023. The P3A board referred the matter to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in October 2024, he said, adding that due to the aforementioned factors, the construction cost of the project increased from the initial Rs22.5 billion in 2021 to Rs61.529 billion for four lanes and Rs71 billion for six lanes by December 2024. The working group had recommended on December 12, 2024 that the Sialkot-Kharian motorway be constructed as a six-lane facility from the outset. They directed NHA to submit a position paper through the Ministry of Communications to the Planning Commission for approval from the relevant forums. In pursuance of the working group's decision, a study was conducted to assess the traffic volume. It concluded that two additional lanes would be required by 2027, with extra expenditure of Rs20.7 billion. However, the construction of six lanes from the outset would cost an additional Rs9.5 billion, resulting in approximate savings of Rs11 billion. Accordingly, the NHA and the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) deliberated on three options on February 21, 2025 including the six-lane option proposed by NHA, with a base construction cost of Rs71 billion and a total project cost of Rs81.97 billion. Sources said that the prime minister and the bodies concerned endorsed the proposal for the construction of six lanes from the outset. It was decided in a recent meeting that the Ministry of Communications and NHA would submit a position paper involving the six-lane option for M-12 (Sialkot-Kharian) and other scope changes for approval from the relevant forums. It was also decided that NHA would submit a revised financing structure and seek the P3A board approval within two weeks. Additionally, the NHA will submit a revised PC-1 of the project for approval from the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) within one month, by April 10, 2025. NHA and FWO shall execute an amendment to the PPP agreement in line with the approved financing structure by April 30, 2025. It was further decided that in future, any technical study that may impact the execution of a project should be included as part of the feasibility study to ensure comprehensive planning and avoid delays. NHA shall deliver a comprehensive presentation to the minister for planning, development and special initiatives on its priority Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects within one week. Also, the NHA shall develop a holistic master plan for planned motorways and highways, ensuring end-to-end connectivity rather than isolated, fragmented development. Considering the strategic and socio-economic importance of N-25, it was agreed that NHA should undertake fast-track construction of the Karachi-Quetta section, followed by the Quetta-Chaman section, with a targeted completion timeline of three years. Additionally, the NHA should ensure the establishment of service and rest areas at suitable locations to enhance the safety and convenience for road commuters.
