Nagpur: After a prolonged pause, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has resumed work on a storm water drainage network along one of Dhantoli’s most congested stretches.The project clears the way for long-pending concretisation of a 350-metre road segment between Lokmat Square and Dhantoli Park—an arterial link serving several hospitals and witnessing a constant flow of patients, visitors, and emergency vehicles. Civic officials said the drainage network is a prerequisite for the cement concrete road (CCR) work on this stretch.Currently, excavation along the road edges has reduced the effective carriageway width, slowing traffic movement, particularly during peak hours. Though vehicular flow continues, bottlenecks have become frequent due to the narrow passage. To limit disruption, the NMC is executing the work in phases.A TOI visit on Monday found drainage pipeline work in progress along the roadside, with barricades placed intermittently. While traffic has not been halted, reduced width has affected vehicular movement.Traffic conditions in the broader Dhantoli area have further deteriorated as the Lokmat Square–Rahate Colony Square stretch is currently restricted to a single lane due to parallel road concretisation work. This has diverted additional traffic onto internal roads, intensifying congestion across adjoining routes.NMC executive engineer Sunil Uike said most road works in Dhantoli under Phase IV of the CCR project are complete. “Out of four major road stretches in the area, three have been concretised. The final segment between Humpyard Road and Lokmat Square is nearing completion, with only a 350-metre patch pending,” he said.Uike said the civic body deliberately prioritised the drainage network to ensure the durability of the upcoming road. “We are laying the drainage line first to eliminate the need for future excavation. Once this is completed, we will immediately take up concretisation of the remaining stretch,” he said.He added that the entire project is on schedule and is expected to be completed before the onset of the monsoon, a crucial deadline given Dhantoli’s history of waterlogging during heavy rains.Highlighting the sensitive nature of the area, which houses multiple healthcare facilities, Uike said the work is being carefully planned to minimise inconvenience. “We are executing the project in short stretches so that access to hospitals is not disrupted,” he said.The civic body has also consulted the Dhantoli Nagarik Mandal and incorporated its suggestions while planning the execution, aiming to strike a balance between infrastructure upgrade and public convenience.
