Nagpur: Residents of Besa-Pipla took to the streets on Sunday to protest the prolonged delay in completing road construction works, which they say have made daily commuting unsafe and unbearable. Demonstrations were held at two key locations — near Pyramid City and Laxmi Mart — following a fatal accident that claimed the life of a senior citizen from the area last week.
The two-kilometre stretch between Besa T-point and Pipla T-point has been under construction for months, moving at what residents describe as a “snail’s pace.” The unfinished road, compounded by heavy vehicle movement and rains, has severely damaged the existing tar surface in Pipla. Locals allege that the hazardous condition of the road has caused frequent traffic snarls and poses a serious risk to commuters.
The immediate trigger for the protests was the recent mishap in front of Laxmi Mart, where a senior citizen lost his life. Angered by administrative apathy, residents gathered in large numbers, shouting slogans and demanding accountability from the authorities.
According to reports, the delay is linked to a shortage of funds within the Public Works Department (PWD). Payment to contractors has reportedly been held up due to the Maharashtra Government’s ongoing financial strain, leading to a slowdown in ongoing projects.
Residents, disillusioned with the government’s unfulfilled promises made before the Assembly elections, are even considering boycotting the upcoming Besa Nagar Panchayat elections. They have also raised concerns over the failure to remove electric poles from the under-construction cement road — a lingering safety hazard.
Following the public outrage, Executive Engineer Sandeep Shende assured that the construction of the cement road would be completed within the next four months, promising to expedite the process to prevent further inconvenience.
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