Ramgiri Road, recently relaid for Rs50L, weathers rains...

Nagpur: In December 2015, Nagpur Municipal Corporation spent 50 lakh to asphalt 500-metre patch in front of chief minister's official bungalow Ramgiri. Around the same time, NMC had re-laid roads in many parts of the city. Most of these roads failed to withstand initial rains and their gravel has started peeling off. But not the Ramgiri road which is still in good condition, indicating NMC can build a better road if it wants to.TOI had earlier reported that the NMC had proposed asphaltation of this road from Ramgiri T-point to WCL headquarters despite it being in relatively good condition and seeing very low traffic. The standing committee gave its nod on November 18 for the work. At the same time, it approved proposal to relay around 400-metre patch of road connecting CK Nayudu Square to Akashwani Square among many others. This road too was asphalted last year and is also in relatively good condition. Another example of superior quality road was Central Avenue. It was constructed around three years ago and still the four-km road is in good condition.
When TOI probed the reason, it was found contractors had followed all specifications. At other places it is not so.
Requesting anonymity, a contractor engaged in the NMC to carry-out various infrastructure works, attributed this to corruption. “While asphalting a road, the corruption starts with the tagging coat,” he said referring to the basic layer of tar that is supposed to be put before asphalting.
At Nagpur, most contractors mix LDO, a a black-coloured lubricant, with tar and spread it instead of pure tar. Proper tag coat actually helps keep bitumen mixture firmly attached to surface below. Since tag coat is substandard, the gravel comes loose, he explained. Even the mixture of tar and bitumen is not as per standard. Against the standard of 6.5% bitumen (tar), only 3 to 5% is used. No wonder it comes off. All this is being done with full knowledge of NMC engineers. It is a chain of corruption from top to bottom in NMC, said another contractor.
“A contractor’s bill has to move through 18 to 20 tables. At every stage palms have to be greased. Taking into account payments to officials and elected representatives, no road can be built with desired quality in given cost,” he said.
However, things change where VIP scrutiny is likely, as in Ramgiri road. Here, NMC engineers personally monitor the work. They ensure every specification is followed. NMC also ensures stormwater drains on these roads are cleaned so no water accumulates. This means no potholes.