In what can be termed as total neglect of civic officials and policy-makers, a project conceived about 21 years back is yet to see the light of the day. To attract attention of the department concerned towards the neglect, Madhya Nagpur Vikas Aghadi adopted innovative style of protest, and cut a cake to mark 21st anniversary of the project to widen old Bhandara Road. Once NH-6, the road starts from opposite Mayo Hospital gate and criss crosses through parts of Mominpura, Hansapuri, Maskasath, Itwari and up to Satranjipura. “It was on January 7, 2000 the project to transform the Old Bhandara road to 60 feet wide DP road was approved.

 

 

 

The project was part of the Integrated Road Development Programme (IRDP). While 43 of the 45 roads identified for widening were completed, only two remain, including Old NH-6, remain untouched. Once State Transport buses used to ply on the road,” said Bhushan Dadwe, President, Madhya Nagpur Vikas Aghadi, who has been pursuing the matter since a decade. The other project that was pending for widening is Kelibagh Road that failed to gain momentum. Highlighting the past developments, Dadwe said, “Even Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court, on July 19, 2017, had directed the then Municipal Commissioner to start the work within three months but the project failed to start. Due to the delay, citizens continue to face inconvenience to reach the wholesale market areas.

 

 

Had the road been developed it would have provided perfect alternative to Central Avenue and ensure faster movement of traffic. But the total neglect towards development of Central Nagpur, the policy-makers seems to have abandoned the area to its own fate.” Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had announced an allocation of Rs 210 crore for widening of old NH-6. Wondering where the entire fund has gone, Dadwe said, “Even after these positive measures, why hasn’t the widening project taken off is a matter of amazement for Nagpurians.”

 

Traffic snarls are order of the day on the entire stretch of the road leaving citizens frustrated at such chaotic development on daily basis. Dadwe said, “One cannot commute on the existing road even on a two-wheeler without encountering traffic-jams at every nook and corner of the road.” Aghadi office-bearers called on Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B and discussed the issue. They are hopeful that he would ensure that the development process is not derailed any further.

 

Meanwhile, the office-bearers staged a protest by cutting a cake at Teen Naal Square and extended best wishes to policy-makers, rulers and civic officials for their future endeavors while putting the ball about widening of old Bhandara Road in God’s court. Ravindra Paigwar, ex-Chairperson, Standing Committee, NMC; Bandu Parwe, ex-corporator; Mohan Marode, Shiv Chourasia, Deorao Nimje, Hitesh Kothari, Rajan Chourasia, Dilip Chandpurkar, Baba Rambhad, Haribhau Parate, Ajay Tamrakar, Ravindra Waghe, Mangesh Pawde and scores of citizens participated in the protest.