Underground cable work turns Ashok Square, Baidyanath Square into crater maze
1
2
Nagpur: Large pits dug by
Mahatransco
(Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company) at
Ashok Square
and
Baidyanath Square
have become a serious problem for citizens and local shopkeepers. These pits, meant for constructing RCC chambers to connect underground cables from the Jattarodi substation, pose grave
safety risks
to motorists as well as pedestrians. Shockingly, no safety arrangements like barricades or guards are in place at these sites.
At Ashok Square construction is also underway for a flyover and a protective wall along the Nag river, further compounding the traffic chaos. As a result of the ongoing infra works, four shopkeepers in the area find themselves virtually trapped inside their shops, unable to operate their businesses.
A 132 kV substation is currently being built in Jattarodi. Due to overload issues at the Besa substation, authorities are now linking eight substations to ensure a more balanced power supply. This involves laying underground cables across several kilometres. At every 500m interval, excavation is carried out to install secure cable-joining chambers. Although cable-laying work was completed at Ashok Square and Baidyanath Square, the construction of RCC chambers is still in progress.
However, the large, swimming pool-like pit at Ashok Square has disrupted daily business for shopkeepers, and at Baidyanath Chowk, the pit presents a serious accident hazard. What's most alarming is the complete absence of safety measures at both locations.
Mahatransco obtained cable-laying permission from NMC's hotmix plant department. Several notices have been sent to the company urging them to complete the work promptly. Last year, similar negligence while laying cables at Jagnade Square caused major inconvenience to citizens during the monsoon. NMC officials now plan to send another letter directing Mahatransco to finish the work without delay.
NMC's Gandhibagh zone executive engineer, Sachin Rakshamwar, said: "Several reminders have already been sent. We will issue another directive soon to ensure speedy completion of work."
A senior official from the Project Department, Mahatransco, clarified that the work to link the Jattarodi 132 kV substation with eight others is ongoing. "We aim to complete the work within a month and will issue instructions to improve on-site safety," the official claimed.
Previously, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) imposed a hefty fee for road excavation and restoration. But Mahavitaran and Mahatransco moved state govt over the fee. Three years ago, a compromise was brokered by the state, resulting in an agreement where utility companies would pay NMC only Rs100 per metre for digging, laying cables, and repairing roads. The low fee has reportedly encouraged widespread negligence by power companies across the city.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
PCMC's 200 crore green municipal bonds listed on BSE; CM and deputies attend ceremony in Mumbai
Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Tuesday listed its Rs200 crore green municipal bonds on the Bombay Stock Exchange ( ) in Mumbai. The listing ceremony was attended by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and state chief secretary Sujata Saunik. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now PCMC has become the first civic body in Maharashtra to raise funds through green municipal bonds, and it is also the first municipal corporation in the country to issue green bonds exclusively for a sustainable mobility project. The funds raised through these bonds will be utilised for the 'Harit Setu' project in Nigdi Pradhikaran and for the sustainable mobility development project from Gawlimatha to Indrayani Nagar Chowk on Telco Road. Both promote non-motorised transport and sustainable development. Speaking at the event, Fadnavis stated that there was a very good response to the green bonds, and they were subscribed within a few minutes. "The strong investor response is a testament to the trust placed in Maharashtra govt and PCMC's governance," he said. He added that the infrastructure built using funds raised through these bonds will help boost sustainability in Pimpri Chinchwad. Last week, the bonds were floated via private placement on the BSE's Electronic Bidding Platform and attracted bids worth Rs513 Crore, oversubscribing the offer by 5.13 times. The bonds were issued at a coupon rate of 7.85% for a period of five years. PCMC commissioner Shekhar Singh said the decision to raise funds through green bonds was taken after past experience when the civic body raised Rs100 Crore through municipal bonds. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "For some projects, the funding available from budgeting stretches up to five to six years due to limited resources with the civic body. We were thinking of ways to expedite our projects, and one such option was to have funds available for a two or three-year timeframe. That is where the idea of green bonds came up," he said. He said there has been increasing stress on financial resources that municipal corporations can allocate for different projects, and municipal bonds provide one such option where the civic bodies can leverage their financial strength. Singh said the Harit Setu project is a master plan for the city for the next 10-12 years, and it is a recognition of the fact that traffic congestion is not just about widening roads. "If we do not think of non-motorised or public transport options, I do not think we will be solving the traffic congestion," he said. The project has already won the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycle Infrastructure in 2023, and the civic body has also received a grant of USD 400 from the FICCI challenge for it. Pimpri Chinchwad was the only city from India and was among the nine global cities that won the FICCI award. Singh said that the corporation has also applied for a 25% grant for the Harit Setu project under the Urban Challenge Fund, a Central govt initiative introduced in this year's Union Budget. PCMC is set to become the first municipal body in the country to avail this assistance, having fulfilled the eligibility condition of raising over 50% of the total project cost through instruments like green bonds, he said. Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Tuesday listed its Rs200 crore green municipal bonds on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in Mumbai. The listing ceremony was attended by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and state chief secretary Sujata Saunik. PCMC has become the first civic body in Maharashtra to raise funds through green municipal bonds, and it is also the first municipal corporation in the country to issue green bonds exclusively for a sustainable mobility project. The funds raised through these bonds will be utilised for the 'Harit Setu' project in Nigdi Pradhikaran and for the sustainable mobility development project from Gawlimatha to Indrayani Nagar Chowk on Telco Road. Both promote non-motorised transport and sustainable development. Speaking at the event, Fadnavis stated that there was a very good response to the green bonds, and they were subscribed within a few minutes. "The strong investor response is a testament to the trust placed in Maharashtra govt and PCMC's governance," he said. He added that the infrastructure built using funds raised through these bonds will help boost sustainability in Pimpri Chinchwad. Last week, the bonds were floated via private placement on the BSE's Electronic Bidding Platform and attracted bids worth Rs513 Crore, oversubscribing the offer by 5.13 times. The bonds were issued at a coupon rate of 7.85% for a period of five years. PCMC commissioner Shekhar Singh said the decision to raise funds through green bonds was taken after past experience when the civic body raised Rs100 Crore through municipal bonds. "For some projects, the funding available from budgeting stretches up to five to six years due to limited resources with the civic body. We were thinking of ways to expedite our projects, and one such option was to have funds available for a two or three-year timeframe. That is where the idea of green bonds came up," he said. He said there has been increasing stress on financial resources that municipal corporations can allocate for different projects, and municipal bonds provide one such option where the civic bodies can leverage their financial strength. Singh said the Harit Setu project is a master plan for the city for the next 10-12 years, and it is a recognition of the fact that traffic congestion is not just about widening roads. "If we do not think of non-motorised or public transport options, I do not think we will be solving the traffic congestion," he said. The project has already won the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycle Infrastructure in 2023, and the civic body has also received a grant of USD 400 from the FICCI challenge for it. Pimpri Chinchwad was the only city from India and was among the nine global cities that won the FICCI award. Singh said that the corporation has also applied for a 25% grant for the Harit Setu project under the Urban Challenge Fund, a Central govt initiative introduced in this year's Union Budget. PCMC is set to become the first municipal body in the country to avail this assistance, having fulfilled the eligibility condition of raising over 50% of the total project cost through instruments like green bonds, he said.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Upgraded hotmix plant functional, yet tender floated to asphalt road
1 2 3 Nagpur: Even as the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) recently commissioned its hotmix plant at Hingna after a long-overdue upgrade, the public works department (PWD) floated a tender for Rs24.73 lakh to asphalt a road in Shanti Niketan Colony in the Laxmi Nagar zone. The move sparked criticism, as the internal tar road is in a poor condition and residents were demanding immediate repairs, which the plant was expected to handle efficiently. Just a few weeks ago, a committee led by officiating chief engineer Manoj Talewar certified the new counter flow drum mix plant as fully functional. A comprehensive inspection on May 5, conducted by a six-member committee including officials from mechanical and hotmix departments, found all components such as the thermodrum unit, bitumen storage tanks, cold feeder and control cabin systems aligned with technical specifications. During the trial, the plant produced a batch of bituminous mix (BM), which was found satisfactory. Only a minor issue of noise from the thermodrum's chain drive was noted and rectified with lubrication. Additionally, samples were tested and calibrated by a third-party lab, confirming the quality output of the plant. With civic complaints rising and citizens demanding better infrastructure, NMC's decision to outsource a road project even after certifying its plant as operational raised serious concerns about administrative efficiency and public accountability. However, Talewar defended the tender stating that "the plant has only recently become operational and is yet to run at full capacity." Ironically, the audit report signed by Talewar himself had confirmed the smooth functioning of the plant. The new plant, capable of producing 60-90 tonnes of asphalt per hour (up from the previous 30 tonnes), was projected to significantly reduce NMC's dependency on private contractors. Citing an example, an NMC official said that a 700-metre stretch at Manish Nagar was asphalted at a cost of Rs35 lakh by deploying services of the old hot-mix plant last year, while private firms would have quoted Rs1.5 crore for the same work. The 25-year-old unit was dismantled and the upgraded facility was completed ahead of its May deadline by installing a modern Light Diesel Oil (LDO)-based drum mix plant. It was seen as a major step toward achieving transparency, quality control, and cost-effectiveness in roadwork, especially considering that NMC spends over Rs95 crore annually on outsourcing road repairs, compared to Rs5 crore on in-house operations. A pre-monsoon survey by the hot mix department identified 497 potholes and 159 bad roads across the 10 zones, excluding roads managed by other agencies like the Nagpur Improvement Trust and the National Highways Authority of India. Subsequently, it sought details of bad roads from the zonal offices. None of the zones have so far submitted the lists of bad roads or potholes with locations, confirmed the official.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Nashik Municipal Corporation to levy entry fees for four large gardens
Nashik: The civic administration is set to introduce entry fees for the four large gardens in the city to boost revenue and offset maintenance costs. The four gardens are Goda Park on the bank of Godavari river near Ramwadi, Somani Garden in the Nashik Road area, Pelican Park in the Cidco area and Late Balasaheb Thackeray Adventure Sports Park along Gangapur Road. "These parks are to be managed and operated by private agencies, which will also pay a royalty or some amount collected through the sale of entry tickets," an official said. The selected agency will be responsible for operating and managing the facilities, as well as organising and managing small events like cultural activities, fitness programmes and community gatherings. "This will contribute to both the vibrancy of the parks and the engagement of the community, ensuring the parks are active, run efficiently and enhance the overall user experience," the official said. Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has already floated a bid for the deployment of the agency to operate and manage Goda Park. "The bids to operate and manage the other three gardens are to be floated shortly. The agencies deployed for the four gardens will also be tasked with overseeing bookings, providing customer service and handling all other operational aspects," another civic official said. "We have started a tender process to deploy a private agency to operate and manage Goda Park. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologist Says "Throw Away Your Regular Bedsheets Right Now, Here's Why" Miracle Sheets Learn More Undo We want to deploy an agency for the overall operation of the park, food court, sitting area, three types of fountains, children's play area, viewing deck, and access to the boating facility at Goda Park," the official said. The Goda Park project, developed on the bank of the Godavari River near Ramwadi, includes children's play areas, an amphitheatre, a fountain, an open gym, a rose garden and an open restaurant, among other features. A floating jetty was also developed for boat rides on the bank of Godavari river. The project was developed at Rs 17 crore. Nashik city houses 539 small and large gardens and 44 jogging tracks.
