Nagpur: With the Urban Development Department (UDD) monitoring the condition of Nagpur’s roads ahead of Ganeshotsav, a first such move, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has launched a focused exercise to make stretches leading to Chitar Oli and major idol immersion spots pothole-free.At a meeting held on Tuesday, NMC chief engineer Leena Upadhey directed all executive engineers to ensure that roads under their respective zones are made pothole-free before Ganeshotsav. The meeting followed directions issued during a video conference chaired by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Monday.Shinde also suggested using suitable mechanisms and technologies for speedy repairs of potholes instead of relying solely on conventional patchwork. The methods discussed included Instapatcher, Jetpatcher and cold-mix technology, which can facilitate quicker repairs and minimise disruption to traffic.NMC has asked engineers to assess the condition of roads across these categories and prioritise repairs according to their importance, traffic movement, and damage.The exercise will cover major arterial roads, internal and residential roads, routes used by Ganesh idol processions, roads leading to immersion points and other stretches expected to witness heavy movement during the festival.Officials have been asked to identify potholes and damaged portions on priority routes and select the appropriate repair method depending on the road surface and extent of damage.The meeting was attended by superintending engineers, assistant commissioners and executive engineers from all 10 NMC zones, besides officials from the hot-mix department. The civic body is expected to prepare a zone-wise assessment of damaged roads and deploy appropriate machinery and repair methods.The directive assumes significance as several city roads have developed potholes following heavy rainfall. With Ganeshotsav approaching, the civic administration wants repairs completed before processions begin, particularly on routes connecting idol-making areas with immersion sites.
