A long-delayed Development Plan (DP) road in Nagpur approved on January 7, 2000 has finally seen concrete administrative action after nearly 27 years of stagnation, following sustained legal and public pressure. While 44 of the 45 sanctioned DP roads were completed over the years, this particular stretch remained stuck in limbo, triggering a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench in 2014.
The PIL was filed by Bhushan Dadve and Ravindra Paigwar of the Madhya Nagpur Vikas Aghadi. On July 19, 2017, a division bench of the High Court directed the administration to commence work within three months. However, activists allege that the order remained largely unimplemented for years due to administrative delays. Repeated representations were made to Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, local MLAs and civic authorities.
A breakthrough came earlier this month when District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar, along with SDO Suresh Bagale, Tehsildar Rajesh Dethe and other officials, conducted a site visit on February 5. On February 16 nearly 103 months after the court’s directive land acquisition proceedings were formally initiated. The municipal commissioner also inspected the site, and acquisition work has begun from the Sunil Hotel stretch.
Dadve has appealed to affected property owners who have received compensation to voluntarily clear the earmarked land. He urged others to submit documents to the SDO office to claim dues and cautioned citizens against “misleading propaganda” allegedly spread by land mafia elements.
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