Bombay High Court Directs NMC to Appoint Nodal Officers for Road Coordination
The Bombay High Court mandates the Nagpur Municipal Corporation to enhance roadwork coordination through dedicated Nodal Officers.
The court's directive aims to improve communication between NMC, Janmanch, and MSRDC.
Concerns raised include poor road quality and inadequate drainage in Nagpur.
Next hearing scheduled for October 26 to review progress on road safety measures.
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has mandated the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to appoint Nodal Officers to facilitate better coordination with Janmanch and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) regarding road construction and infrastructure issues. This directive comes in response to complaints indicating a lack of cooperation from NMC officials towards addressing civic concerns raised by the petitioner, Janmanch president Rajiv Jagtap, during a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) hearing.
The PIL highlights significant issues surrounding the quality and maintenance of cement concrete roads and other public infrastructure in Nagpur. The court, presided over by Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Justice Raj Wakode, emphasized the necessity for Nodal Officers who will serve as primary contacts to streamline communication and ensure that complaints regarding development works are effectively relayed to the appropriate officials.
During the proceedings, the court was made aware of the challenges faced by Janmanch in engaging with NMC officials. Previously, the NMC had consented to receive expert guidance from geotechnical engineer Amol Shingare and architect Paramjit Singh Ahuja to enhance the quality of development projects in the city. Their expertise is anticipated to assist in resolving issues related to road construction and infrastructure planning.
The PIL has raised multiple concerns regarding the cement concrete roads, including elevated road levels leading to water ingress in homes during the monsoon, inadequate drainage systems, and construction defects. Additionally, the petition calls for an independent evaluation of road quality. In prior hearings, the High Court requested timely measures to mitigate waterlogging caused by elevated roads and instructed authorities to rectify road safety and maintenance issues. The NMC had previously informed the court of its engagement with IIT Bombay for a technical audit of the roads, which Janmanch questioned regarding its compliance with government standards for independent audits.
The court has set the next hearing for October 26, where representatives from various parties, including NHAI, Janmanch, NMC, NIT, and the State Government, will present updates on the situation and any progress made towards addressing the outlined concerns.
