The 5-km stretch of Kamptee Road from LIC Square to Automotive Square within the city limits is in dispute as none of the agencies is willing to take ownership and thus the stretch remains in dire straits owing to non-maintenance. The agencies like State Public Works Department (PWD), and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) have denied the maintainance of road being their responsibility. As is common, during the monsoon period, the tar roads deteriorate very fast and they need to be reasphalted every year to ensure that they remain motorable. The inauguration of the 5.6 km double-decker viaduct flyover on Kamptee road between LIC Square and Pili Nadi was considered one of the most impressive components of development in the city. The four-level transport structure, part of the flyover where it crosses the Itarasi line of Indian Railway, near Gaddigodam was treated as engineering genius by the authorities. It was expected that this construction will ease the life of citizens utilising the flyover, but, in reality, it has made the life difficult for commuters using the road below the flyover.

 

The most astonishing thing is, nobody seems to know who exactly is responsible for the maintenance of this stretch of road, that has resulted in an uncomfortable travel experience to commuters on this road. Before the inauguration of flyover, ‘The Hitavada’ had raised the issue of maintenance of this road. Before the construction of the Metro Rail service, the road was part of National Highway and was under the jurisdiction of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). With construction of Metro, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) had agreed to take over the maintenance of the above-mentioned road till the completion of the project.

 

This road was subsequently to be handed over to the State Public Works Department (PWD) for further maintenance. Akhilesh Halve, Deputy General Manager, Corporate Communication, MMRCL, informed ‘The Hitavada’ that the Metro had written a letter to PWD and had transferred the road to the department on February 17, 2023. He admitted that the MMRCL had repaired some part of service road after completion of remaining portion of flyover earlier this year. Nisha Dhabekar, Assistant Chief Engineer, PWD, was unaware of the road being PWD’s responsibility for maintenance. Dhabekar , however, informed ‘The Hitavada’ that a proposal to transfer stretch of this road from Automotive Square till Kanhan River bridge to PWD was under process. The stretch of road is currently under control of NHAI. Among all this, who is responsible for the maintenance of the stretch of the road between LIC square and Automotive square is a million dollar question, as can be seen from its condition and bumpy ride commuters experience every day.