First few showers expose potholes

NASHIK: Shantanu Patil goes cycling every morning with his friends on different roads of the city. On Sunday, he and his friends missed the pleasure of cycling on city roads. On Monday, they tried a different route and faced the same problem. Afterall, dodging potholes every now and then is not a pleasant experience.
"We finally decided to pack our bicycles and forget cycling for the present.We don't like to carry our bicycles in our cars to places and then ride. The pleasure of cycling and experiencing the city roads before the citizens hit the roads for the day, is just too good. But the NMC approves of huge funds and does nothing for the city," said Shantanu.
Piyush Jain, an employee with a private firm is very cautious since the past two days fearing that his two-wheeler could go bang on the pothole and he would skid.
"Many roads in the city have developed potholes in a matter of just two days. The first few showers exposed the shoddy work of the road contractors and the NMC has not even penalised anyone; at least we never heard of it," said Piyush.
The general body of Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) recently approved Rs 190 crore for developing/repairing colony roads in the city. While the kumbh works focused on main roads and ring roads of the city, colony roads were put at the backburner. Prior to the monsoon the funds for the road works were approved but before the NMC could start working on it, the first few showers exposed potholes creating problems for motorists.
Most of the colony roads have developed potholes. Besides, Mumbai Naka, Dwarka, Panchavati (road adjacent to Ramkund), Gangapur Road (from Anandwalli), Dongre signal to Canada Corner, Dongre Signal to Chopda Lawns, City Centre Mall Road and other places have developed potholes.
The NMC, however, feels that there are potholes only on roads that have issues with tree felling.
From the time the road construction is completed till the next three years there is a defect liability period. During this period the care and repair of the road is the responsibility of the contractor and he has to do it with his expense. Out of the total 1601 km road, 250 km is under the defect liability period. If there are potholes in these roads the NMC will get it repaired through the contractor.
City engineer, Sunil Khune said that for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2015-16, the NMC constructed 107 km roads. "The trees on Gangapur Road and Dindori Road are sub-judice and hence we could not construct these roads. Two coats of resurfacing is pending in Gangapur Road due to which potholes have developed. None of the roads constructed during simhastha developed potholes. The work of Gangapur road could not be completed and hence the potholes have developed. We will get the work done from the contractor. The roads that developed potholes were repaired 5-10 years back," he said.
When the rainwater gets accumulated in tar roads and seeps below it the hydrocarbon of the tar is lost and hence potholes are caused. Taking this into consideration Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) has made it compulsory to resurface roads. According to this, 1111 km of tar road 850 km has to be resurfaced.
"But considering the financial condition it is not possible to resurface roads on such a large scale. Hence the general body has approved road works of the first phase," said Khune.
According to this, the NMC will do 50 km gravel work, 101 km tar road, 213 km resurfacing, 77 km MIDC roads. Resurfacing will start after rainy season so that they last longer. Potholes will be filled temporarily.
Vox Populi
On Monday when we went cycling, the potholes on Gangapur Road - from Anandwalli onwards had lot of potholes and we were not comfortable cycling. Same is with the road from Dongre signal to Canada Corner. From Anandwalli, the NMC has to acquire the land for road widening hence trees are not the reason. Even on MERI, Mhasrul and Govind Nagar roads have been widened but the trees are retained. Wherever there are trees on roads there are no problems. Jehan Circle doesn't have trees yet there are potholes. On Tuesday, we did not feel like cycling.
- Joshua Shrivastav, entrepreneur
Every year we see road works being done but except for last year we always face problems of potholes and trenches. At main locations in Dwarka and Mumbai Naka also every year motorists face problems. There is so much water logging in these areas that those on two-wheelers don't even realise where the potholes are. The NMC is always spending on road works. Every year apart from road works nothing is done yet the roads are in a sorry state. Almost every month they seek approval for road works in the meetings. Where do the funds go?
- Meera Abhyankar, housewife
Lot has been spent on roads by the NMC and they are still spending on roads. The issue of river pollution, the issue of sewage treatment plants and many others are yet to be resolved but the NMC has done nothing for these issues. Every now and then we read only about road works. Yet the roads are not up to the mark. The ones constructed during kumbh are fairly well done but not all of them. It is difficult to commute during rainy season. They do not even keep a check on the quality of work done by the contractor.
- Ramesh Nimse, paediatrician
Total length of roads 1601 kms
Gravel road 230 kms
Tar road 1111kms
Concrete road 201 kms
Roads in slums 59 km