Nagpur: The long-pending Old Bhandara Road widening project received a major push after authorities launched a demolition drive on Thursday to clear acquired properties. Two bulldozers were deployed for demolition of the structures along the stretch from Mayo Hospital to Shaheed Chowk from early morning under heavy police bandobast.District collector Vipin Itankar personally supervised the operation. Accompanied by SDO Suresh Bagale and officials from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), City Survey Department, Public Works Department (PWD), and police personnel, Itankar reviewed the progress. The collector walked along the stretch and instructed owners of properties already acquired to vacate their premises, warning that demolition would proceed without delay.The work order for the project was issued back in 2021, with the process remaining stuck for years due to slow acquisition and disputes. Officials said the current action focused only on properties for which compensation was already paid and legal formalities were completed.Speaking to TOI, a senior official from the collectorate said the acquisition process saw several hurdles over the years. “The project was sanctioned Rs267 crore for acquiring properties. NMC bought 68 properties for Rs68 crore, but the process took years. Finally, NMC asked the collector’s office to carry out compulsory acquisition. We have acquired properties and paid around Rs60 crore to 207 landowners, apart from the 68 properties acquired by NMC,” said the official, adding that a total of 450 properties needed to be acquired for the project.Authorities said that while a majority of landowners accepted compensation and vacated their premises, some cases were still pending due to internal disputes among property holders. “We will soon start the process of acquiring those properties as well. On Thursday, the drive started to demolish properties for which payments have been done,” said the official.The Old Bhandara Road widening project covers a 3km stretch from Mayo Hospital to Sunil Hotel. PWD had awarded the contract in September 2021. The project, including civil and electrical works, is estimated to cost around Rs70 crore. According to the plan, the stretch from Mayo Hospital to Bagdadi Square will be widened to 18 metres, while the remaining portion up to Sunil Hotel will be expanded to 30 metres.A PWD official said work remained stalled for long due to pending acquisition. “The project work will start as soon as the NMC clears the stretch,” said the official.Only a 150-metre patch near Mayo Hospital was widened earlier, but further work could not proceed due to the presence of hundreds of properties along the route. Officials expect the project to gain momentum in the coming weeks.
