Gadkari cracks whip on contractors: Blacklist those leaving Nagpur roads dug up

Nagpur: Fed up with citizens being forced to negotiate dug-up roads, treacherous potholes and shoddy patchwork, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has ordered a strict crackdown on contractors responsible for leaving city roads in a battered condition after completing excavation work.

Gadkari has directed authorities to blacklist contractors who fail to properly restore roads after carrying out underground works. He also warned that officials responsible for negligence in supervising such projects would not be spared, directing that erring officials be suspended.

The strong directions came during a review meeting on Sunday on the Nag River Pollution Abatement Project, rehabilitation of settlements following encroachment removal and other major development works in the city.

The action follows repeated complaints and reports highlighting the hardship faced by Nagpur residents due to roads being excavated for civic and utility projects and subsequently left damaged or inadequately restored.

AMRUT experience rings alarm bells

Several city roads were dug up during implementation of the AMRUT scheme. However, in many locations, restoration after completion of the underground work was either delayed or poorly executed, leaving behind uneven surfaces and potholes that have become a major hazard for motorists and pedestrians.

Gadkari made it clear that the city cannot afford a repeat of this experience when work on the ambitious Nag River project gathers pace.

The project will involve extensive excavation for laying sewage lines and developing sewage-treatment infrastructure. Work is planned in five phases and includes construction of three new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and reconstruction of two existing plants.

Roads across five constituencies, West, South-West, South, Central and East, are expected to be excavated for various components of the project.

‘Dig it, restore it — and restore it properly’

Taking serious note of the potential disruption, Gadkari directed officials to ensure that modern machinery is used for both excavation and road restoration.

He stressed that roads must be restored to the required standard immediately after underground work is completed, rather than leaving citizens to suffer for months.

Contractors failing to meet restoration standards will face stringent action, including blacklisting, while officials found guilty of ignoring poor-quality work or failing to supervise contractors properly will face disciplinary action, including suspension.

The message from the meeting was unequivocal: no contractor will be allowed to dig up a public road and walk away without restoring it properly, and no official will be allowed to look the other way.

The meeting was attended by Revenue Minister and Nagpur Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Mayor Neeta Thakre, Deputy Mayor Leela Hathibed, MLAs Krishna Khopde, Mohan Mate and Sanjay Bhende, ruling party leader Balya Borkar, Standing Committee Chairperson Shivani Dani, Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar, District Collector Kumar Ashirwad, NIT Chairman Sanjay Meena and Zilla Parishad CEO Vinayak Mahamuni.

Riverbank residents face relocation

The meeting also took up the rehabilitation of residents living in unauthorised settlements and slums within 15 metres of the Nag River.

These settlements are proposed to be removed as part of the riverbank clearance and development programme. Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar informed the meeting that approximately 2,500 housing units would be required to rehabilitate the affected families.

With the Nag River project set to trigger widespread excavation across the city, Gadkari’s directives have put contractors and supervising officials on notice: Nagpur’s residents will not be made to pay the price for poor planning, delayed restoration or administrative negligence.

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