Nagpur's pre-monsoon pothole drive exposes crumbling internal roads

Nagpur: A citywide drive to repair potholes ahead of the monsoon has once again exposed the poor condition of Nagpur's internal tar roads, many of which now require complete renovation rather than routine patchwork.

Pre-Monsoon Repair Drive Details

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) hot mix department conducted a special pre-monsoon repair drive between June 1 and June 6, filling 336 potholes covering 3,825.91 square metres of damaged road surface. The week-long exercise was carried out across all 10 civic zones. Two hot-mix teams were deployed to repair stretches damaged by age, wear and repeated utility works.

Zone-wise Pothole Repairs

According to data shared by the department, Laxmi Nagar recorded the highest number of potholes filled at 70, followed by Dharampeth (50), Nehru Nagar (46), Gandhibagh (43), Satranjipura (28), Mangalwari (28), Dhantoli (25), Hanuman Nagar (22), Lakadganj (13) and Ashi Nagar (11). In terms of area of repaired roads, Dharampeth topped the list with 693.15 sq m, followed by Gandhibagh (680.55 sq m), Nehru Nagar (509.10 sq m), Laxmi Nagar (363.40 sq m), Lakadganj (349.55 sq m), Mangalwari (334.65 sq m), Satranjipura (277.75 sq m), Ashi Nagar (234 sq m), Hanuman Nagar (206.30 sq m) and Dhantoli (177.46 sq m).

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Underlying Road Deterioration

While civic officials described the exercise as a preventive measure before heavy rainfall, the figures underscore the extent of deterioration in the city's road network. The need to repair 336 potholes in just six days indicates that large sections of internal roads remain in distress despite regular maintenance. Several residential areas, including Ganpati Nagar, Pension Colony, Ramdaspeth, Sakkardara, Baba Farid Nagar, Jaripatka, Nara, Nari and Shanti Nagar, continue to experience recurring potholes, forcing the civic body to undertake repairs before every monsoon.

Residents Demand Lasting Solutions

Residents and public representatives have repeatedly argued that many tar roads have exceeded their design life and can no longer be sustained through temporary repairs. The problem is particularly acute on roads weakened by repeated excavation for water pipelines, sewer lines, utility cables, and other infrastructure projects. In many localities, stretches repaired during previous monsoons have once again developed cracks, depressions, and potholes, while others have been dug up afresh for utility works.

Civic engineers maintain that hot-mix patching is only an interim measure intended to prevent accidents and ensure smoother traffic movement during the rainy season. However, road experts and residents contend that many stretches now require complete resurfacing or reconstruction for a lasting solution. With monsoon showers expected to intensify in the coming days, the latest repair drive may provide temporary relief. For thousands of commuters, however, the larger question remains whether Nagpur can move beyond annual pothole-filling exercises and undertake a comprehensive renewal of its ageing internal road network.