Civic chief hits the road to check on potholes

NAGPUR: Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal seems to have woken up to the problem of huge potholes, rough patches and slushy stretches on city roads. Taking cognizance of TOI reports that exposed how, after only a few spells of rain, potholes had resurfaced on every internal and arterial roads, Jaiswal conducted a day-long surprise inspection of the roads along with top NMC officials on Thursday.
TOI had recently reported on pathetic condition of various roads from University Square to Akashwani Square, Pratap Nagar to Khamla Square, Old Bhandara Road-Umred Road to Chhota Tajbagh, Ring Road (Chhatrapati Square to Mhalgi Nagar), Mokshadham to Cotton market, Hudkeshwar Road, the road opposite the Ganeshpeth bus stand, Katol Road, road between Automotive square to Rani Durgavati square, Bhande Plot to Chhota Tajbagh that was constructed just a few months back.
Jaiswal along with additional deputy municipal commissioner Ravindra Kumbhare, chief engineer, Ashok Shambharkar, executive engineers G D Jambhulkar and R N Hotwani, Manoj Talewar, V S Johri and ward officers Mahesh Dhamecha, G M Rathod and Rajesh Bhivgade took stock of pothole filling work being taken up by NMC PWD Department especially near Reserve Bank, on Ghat Road, Hasanbagh IRDP road, Kalamna, Katol road and Kamptee road and from Wardhman Nagar to Pardi square.
Jaiswal directed the officials to tell agencies like Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), Public Works Department (PWD) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) who owned many roads which are in worse condition than NMC roads to at least fill up the potholes. He also inspected open manholes and drains and directed officials to cover all the open manholes and drains immediately.
NMC executive engineer, D D Jambhulkar said that it was not possible to repair potholes using hot mix due to rains. "However, we would fill up potholes as soon as possible. Initially, we will fill up large ones that posed a danger to vehicles on NMC owned roads and then turn to NIT and PWD owned roads," he said.
He added it was natural for roads to deteriorate in rains. He said roads under NMC were actually not as bad as roads under NIT and PWD because of the pre-monsoon re-carpeting work completed by NMC on over 400 km roads. After pothole filling, the regular tarring would begin after September 30, he added.