City cement roads cracked, citizens safety at risk

In just two days heavy rainfall the city cement roads have developed cracks and in some areas, the pavements have collapsed. The cement roads are meant to be stable for the next decade or two if not more. But only after two year’s construction, the conditions of the road have left the citizens horrified.

Janmanch a premier social organization of the city undertook an exercise which was aimed to do a survey of the newly constructed cement roads of the city. The stretch from Alankar square till Bhole petrol pump has developed cracks at many spots whereas a pavement in Ramdaspeth collapsed on Sunday evening.

Members of Janmanch informed, that, “Politicians may belittle this as minor issues but in days to come given black cotton soil beneath the roads, cracks are bound to widen. Is public money meant to be wasted in such a way and what about accountability?”

Janmanch gave a voice to the rage of the citizens by stating that if this was the new standards of quality then citizens should start thinking about their safety.  Soon the deterioration of the concrete roads would start and the city will have a good amount of potholes which will further risk the life of the commuters. Another stretch that was taken up for scrutiny was Ring Road from near Hingna Tpoint till Hudkeshwar and its condition speaks for itself.

According to the sources, the contact for the construction of the cement roads was bagged by M/s RPS Infrastructure.  The officer nominated by Public Works Department (PWD) agreed that Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) has advised replacement of 270 cement panels owing to issues with its quality.

As per the information received there are total 11 lakh panels on the Inner Ring Road divided into packages, one starting from HingnaT-point to Mhalgi Nagar, second one till Pardi Square, and one from Kalamna to Jaripatka.

Janmanch alleged that as per Work Order M-50 grade concrete was to be utilised and wherever that is used the condition of road is quite smooth and fine. But at many places along the stretch one noticed that water was accumulating on the surface indicative of sub-standard work. This damage on upper layer is irreparable and such panels needs to be improved.

President, Janmanch, Pramod Pande, said, “Another marked shortcoming on Ring Road was missing footpath. This is a violation of work contract that specially mentioned the development of footpath alongside the road. But moot question is nowhere citizens have footpath to walk-on and thereby they have to use carriageway thereby exposing themselves to dangers of passing vehicles.”

Along with President, Pramod Pande, Janmanch’s Rajiv Jagtap, Naresh Kshirsagar, Ram Akhre, Dada Zode, Shrikant Doud, Suhas Khandekar, Pradeep Ninave, Pramod Ramekar, Shrikant Deole, Pralhad Kharsane, Uttamrao Sulke, and others were present during the tour.

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