Gangabai Ghat Road riddled with potholes, commuters bear the brunt

Nagpur: The stretch from Gangabai Ghat Square to Shashti Nagar Square has turned into a commuter’s nightmare due to potholes, and cracks on the road surface. Constructed to offer smooth travel across this busy residential and commercial zone, the road now poses daily challenges for motorists and pedestrians.With each passing day, the condition of the road is worsening. The rain over the past week has further eroded the surface. Motorists are forced to swerve, slow down, or even halt abruptly to avoid deep potholes, resulting in traffic congestion. The potholes are posing a risk of accidents, apart from damaging vehicles. For two-wheeler riders, the stretch has become particularly dangerous, especially during peak hours.Residents and commuters have raised concerns about the lack of maintenance of the busy stretch. “The road’s condition is awful,” said Shailesh Tembhurne, a local resident. “Forget a smooth commute, it’s a task just to cross this stretch without rattling every part of your vehicle,” he added.Adding to the concern is the reckless driving often witnessed on the damaged road. Despite the poor condition, many motorists continue to speed through the area.

Akshay Patil, a fruit vendor who operates nearby, said, “Even with the road in such bad shape, some motorists drive like they’re on a highway. While the road condition is undeniably poor, drivers also need to be more cautious.”The stretch is frequented by autorickshaws, delivery vans, buses, and school vans, making its upkeep vital. Locals say repeated complaints to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) went unanswered. “We wrote letters and even visited the ward office, but no action was taken. It’s as if this road doesn’t exist on NMC’s repair list,” said another resident.The residents are now urging the NMC to treat the matter as urgent and carry out resurfacing and repair works before the monsoon intensifies the damage further. However, upon being contacted, neither the zonal engineer nor the NMC’s PWD department officials responded to TOI’s calls or messages.