Nagpur: The first heavy spell of rain this season exposed the poor quality of road repair and resurfacing work recently carried out in several areas, including Khamla, Atre Layout and Pratap Nagar. Large portions of newly-tarred roads were washed away, leaving behind loose gravel and puddles, posing a threat to two-wheeler riders and pedestrians.Residents of the affected localities expressed anger over what they claim is substandard work. On Monday, TOI found that bitumen layer had eroded completely on several stretches. Ashok Karandikar, a local resident and member of Janakrosh NGO, said, “Many roads in Khamla, Atre Layout, and Pratap Nagar were recently resurfaced. But the bitumen has already started peeling off after the rains, exposing loose aggregate and sub-base layers. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is clearly compromising on quality in roadwork.”Karandikar pointed out that basic road engineering principles were ignored. “Water is the enemy of bituminous roads. Proper seal coating is essential to prevent seepage. Roads also need an appropriate camber to allow water runoff, and side drains should be functional. Unfortunately, none of these seem to have been followed. Instead of draining away, water is accumulating in the same areas where the surface has worn off.“The resulting loose gravel and slippery patches have already led to several accidents involving two-wheeler riders, said local motorists. “These roads were tarred just a few weeks ago. If they can’t survive even one rain, it raises questions on the quality of material used and the executing agency,” said a resident from Atre Layout.Several citizens also alleged that tarring work is being carried out in isolated patches rather than uniform resurfacing across entire stretches. “Every monsoon the same thing happens — shoddy patchwork, no drainage planning, and zero monitoring. It’s high time the authorities take public safety seriously,” said another resident.An engineer from the NMC’s Laxmi Nagar zone said the agency which executed the works will be identified, followed by appropriate action.
