No pucca roads in layouts, NIT floats Rs57L tender for patch work, repairs
2
Nagpur: Even as the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) has floated fresh tenders worth over Rs57 lakh for patch work and road repairs in authorised and unauthorised layouts in south and north Nagpur, residents continue to reel under pathetic road conditions, with several areas waterlogged after heavy rain and non-existent approach roads.
On Tuesday, NIT published a tender notice, which includes works worth Rs20.15 lakh for repairs and patch work in South Nagpur and another Rs37.49 lakh for road repairs in North Nagpur. The repairs and patch works will be done with metal and murum in both authorised and unauthorised layouts over six months.
The situation remains grim on the ground. At Swami Nagar in Nari, North Nagpur, the condition is deplorable. "Khup traas aahe bhau (It's too much trouble).
Water has entered our homes. Children can't go to school. It's become impossible to step out," said resident Sachin Ingle, whose flooded street reflects the extent of civic apathy despite repeated allocations.
Former Congress Corporator from North Nagpur Manoj Sangole questioned the utility of recurring expenditures. "Earlier too, a Rs1 crore tender was floated. Every year crores are wasted. NIT must finalise the legal status of these layouts.
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Builders sold these plots and left, and now residents are paying the price for no development," Sangole told TOI.
He alleged systemic injustice, saying, "There are over 1,900 layouts now, and 572 have been legalised. What about the rest? These layouts must be rehabilitated and granted permanent status. NIT either needs to be dissolved or its trustees must take accountability."
Residents in layouts under Prabhag areas and inner pockets of North Nagpur continue to suffer.
"There are dozens of pockets where residents are living without roads, drainage or basic services," Sangole said, demanding urgent attention from both state and local bodies.
"The situation is no different in areas in south Nagpur," said former corporator Vijay Zalke.
The problem is particularly dire in Gunthewari layouts that were sold decades ago but never received basic civic amenities. Many continue to rely on muddy lanes that get completely cut off during monsoon, trapping people inside their homes.
A senior NIT official admitted the lack of amenities, especially roads in authorised and unauthorised layouts. Citing an example, the official said only 10% of residents of authorised layouts pay the development charges to NIT. "So, it's very difficult for the civic agency to provide roads and other basic civic amenities," the official said.
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