Nagpur Municipal Corporation makes stadium road problem worse

NAGPUR: Strange are the ways of Nagpur Municipal Corporation. Its demolition squad is making everybody else follow all guidelines strictly and removing structures that do not fit into rules from markets. Yet, it is neglecting the erection of illegal cement blocks on busy Yeshwant Stadium road by its own Dhantoli zone office.
NMC's on-going drive may have forced encroachers on the backfoot; however it has yet not prompted its own officials to take ensure all norms are adhered to when they make traffic arrangements.The cement blocks placed near the stadium since long are creating problems for road users. When TOI recently reported that NMC officials were unaware of the rules about putting up blocks in this manner and these blocks were already causing mishaps, Dhantoli zone officials removed temporary blocks. Instead, they blocked the entire stretch opposite Bhagwati Mandir up to the footpath connecting Munje square.
This has worsened the problem. The intersection had high volume of traffic because it connected Munje square, Mehadia square and traffic coming from Panchsheel square. Due to lack of proper signboards, particularly car drivers are either ending up hitting these blocks or have to turn and come all the way back adding to the chaos.
With new blocks on the entire stretch, now it has also become difficult for even two-wheeler riders to pass through them. TOI found that many two wheeler riders, specially those with scooters, hitting the blocks while trying to go between two of them. Some even hurt themselves and damaged their vehicles. Bike riders could easily pass through these blocks.
Shivram Mohadikar, a flower shop owner near Bhagwati Mandir, said corporation staffers had fixed the blocks on entire stretch keeping very small distance in two blocks and painted it with yellow colour just a few days ago. He said since then minor accidents had become a routine when people try to ride through them.
A NMC official admitted that while blocks may have created trouble for vehicles, they have ensured parking space for shopkeepers near the blocks. They also created place for devotees of Bhagwati Mandir and hawkers by blocking four-wheeler traffic. He informed that as per City of Nagpur Corporation Act 1948, for blocking any road, approval of civic house is mandatory. In this case no such thing has been done and Dhantoli zone officials were taking decisions on their own.
Anil Kadu, Dhantoli zone engineer, maintained that the road had been blocked as per directions of high court and said it was done to prevent entry of heavy vehicles. He assured to install proper signboards saying road ahead had been blocked to prevent cars from entering.