After a prolonged halt, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has restarted work on a stormwater drainage network along one of Dhantoli’s busiest stretches.
The development paves the way for the long-delayed concretisation of a 350-metre road between Lokmat Square and Dhantoli Park—an important arterial link that connects several hospitals and sees constant movement of patients, visitors and emergency vehicles. Officials said laying the drainage line is essential before taking up the cement concrete road (CCR) work.
At present, excavation along the road edges has narrowed the carriageway, slowing traffic, especially during peak hours. Though movement has not been stopped, bottlenecks are frequent due to the reduced width. To minimise disruption, the NMC is carrying out the work in phases.
A visit on Monday found drainage pipeline work underway with barricades placed at intervals. While traffic continues to pass, the narrowed stretch has affected flow. The situation has worsened in the larger Dhantoli area as the Lokmat Square–Rahate Colony Square road is currently restricted to a single lane due to parallel concretisation work, diverting additional traffic onto internal roads and increasing congestion.
NMC executive engineer Sunil Uike said most roads in Dhantoli under Phase IV of the CCR project have already been completed. “Out of four major stretches, three have been concretised. Only a 350-metre portion between Humpyard Road and Lokmat Square remains,” he said.
He added that the drainage work has been prioritised to ensure the longevity of the upcoming road. “We are laying the drainage network first to avoid future digging. Once this is done, concretisation of the remaining stretch will begin immediately,” he said.
According to officials, the project is progressing on schedule and is expected to be completed before the monsoon, a key deadline given Dhantoli’s history of waterlogging. Considering the presence of multiple hospitals in the area, the work is being executed in short stretches to ensure access is not disrupted.
The civic body has also consulted the Dhantoli Nagarik Mandal and factored in its suggestions while planning the execution, aiming to balance infrastructure development with public convenience.
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