Nagpur: Three years after the cement road project and lighting infra were completed, the 700m stretch leading to Kalamna market remains largely in darkness. Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) completed the construction of the road from New Mehta Kanta Chowk to Chikhli Chowk in 2023, along with streetlight infrastructure costing around Rs33 lakh, but the lights have never illuminated the stretch, say residents and local corporator Pradip Pohane.The road is an important link to Kalamna market, where a dedicated wholesale grain merchants’ bazaar is coming up to accommodate traders currently operating from Itwari’s congested Kirana Oli. It also connects Poha Oli and other major trading areas, making the lack of functioning streetlights a concern for traders, truckers and commuters using the road after dark.Pohane sought details from NIT under Right to Information (RTI) Act after repeated complaints about the non-functional lights. The information given by NIT records the streetlight work as completed, while residents say they have not seen the 60 lights on 30 poles functioning since the road was completed.The project was proposed in 2020 and tendered on April 25, 2022, at an estimated cost of Rs13.54 crore. The contractor secured the tender at 30.62% below the estimate for Rs9.54 crore. The agency was required to complete the road and associated works within 10 months.The work order provided Rs3.65 lakh for earthing cables, Rs12.88 lakh for 60 LED lights, and Rs15.34 lakh for 30 high-mast lights. The contractor also submitted a Rs54.51 lakh bank guarantee for the six-month defect liability period. The security amount has since been released.NIT has also not completed the formal handover of the road to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), adding to the uncertainty over who is responsible for making the lighting operational.Pohane demanded an inquiry and action against officials responsible for the lapse. NIT divisional officer (east) Sudhir Rathod said electricity supply from NMC is required to energise the NIT-installed poles. He said the contractor’s security deposit had already been released during the tenure of then executive engineer Vinayak Zade, who has since retired.ROAD PROJECT700-metre stretch from New Mehta Kanta Chowk to Chikhli ChowkROAD COSTRs9.54 crore awarded to Abhi EngineeringSTREETLIGHTS30 poles with 60 LED lights installedLIGHTING COSTAround Rs33 lakh, including LED and high-mast lighting provisionsPROJECT STATUSRoad completed in 2023; lights remain non-functionalSECURITY DEPOSITRs54.51 lakh bank guarantee submitted for defect liability periodKEY COMMERCIAL LINKConnects Kalamna market and the upcoming wholesale grain merchants’ bazaar for traders from Itwari’s Kirana Oli
