MLAs meet Nashik civic chief over alleged flaws & lack of coordination in Kumbh works

Nashik: Raising concerns over public safety and poor coordination among civic agencies amid Kumbh Mela-related works, Nashik Central MLA Devyani Pharande and Nashik West MLA Seema Hiray on Tuesday met civic chief Manisha Khatri and sought immediate corrective measures.The legislators said large-scale infrastructure projects underway across the city are causing widespread inconvenience to residents, citing safety lapses, traffic disruptions and repeated road excavations."We conveyed the hardships faced by people on the streets and stressed the need for at least temporary solutions to ensure safe commuting for those travelling for work, business and other purposes," Pharande said.Following field visits to different parts of the city, the MLAs pointed to growing public resentment over the lack of inter-departmental coordination, poor planning and disregard for safety norms. They alleged that contractors were carrying out road excavations without mandatory information boards, posing risks to pedestrians and motorists.The MLAs also highlighted the non-integration of underground MSEDCL cable works with concrete road construction, resulting in freshly laid roads being dug up again, leading to wastage of public funds. "There is also a lack of coordination among sewerage, water supply and MNGL departments, causing the same road stretches to be excavated repeatedly," Pharande said.They further flagged unannounced road diggings that paralysed traffic, damaged vehicles and left excavated stretches incomplete for days without adequate safety measures. Closure of major roads without providing alternative routes was also raised during the meeting."Acknowledging the seriousness of the issues, NMC commissioner Manisha Khatri assured us that the concerns would be addressed within eight days and that coordination among departments would be improved," MLA Seema Hiray said.