A few shovels of gravel cannot bury a failing system. Almost two months after ‘The Hitavada’ raised concerns over the dangerous condition of the Shyam Nagar to New Manish Nagar road, the official response appears to be little more than a cosmetic exercise. Instead of reconstructing the damaged stretch, authorities have spread loose gravel across nearly half the road, creating the appearance of action, while leaving commuters to deal with a different kind of danger. If this is what passes for road repair, one must ask question about the public money being invested in durable infrastructure or in temporary fixes designed to survive only until the next complain - or the next rainfall. For many daily commuters, the crisis has not ended, it has merely changed form. The potholes may now be hidden beneath a layer of stones, but the loose gravel has transformed the road into a slippery surface where two-wheelers lose traction, cars struggle for grip, and every passing vehicle scatters stones in all directions.

 

We asked for a road, not a pile of stones. This is not engineering but camouflage,” lamented Dheeraj Naik, a frustrated commuter. Residents say the gravel shifts constantly under traffic, leaving an uneven and unpredictable surface. With the monsoon already active, many fear that the first heavy showers will wash away the stones, exposing the same potholes that have plagued the area for months and wasting both time and taxpayer’s money. Another resident questioned the quality and intent of the work. “After months of complaints, this is the solution. Citizens deserve infrastructure that lasts, not a temporary layer that hides the problem until it reappears,” expressed Sunil, a nearby resident. The stretch is used every day by office-goers, schoolchildren, senior citizens, emergency vehicles and public transport. Yet, the response has been a patchwork measure that appears focused on changing how the road looks rather than how it performs.

 

‘The Hitavada’ contacted Harry Mahule, Assistant Engineer, Grade-II, NIT, who stated that, land acquisition for the project is currently underway and the tendering process has already been completed. Physical construction work is temporarily on hold due to the Election Model Code of Conduct, which remains in effect until June 22,” Mahule said. He added that, after the Code of Conduct is lifted, official work order of existing gravel road issue to enable full-scale road construction will begin. The project is expected to be completed by December 2026. Roads are not meant to be covered up, they are meant to be built to last. Until a proper reconstruction is undertaken, the gravel on Shyam Nagar road will stand as a reminder that citizens are still waiting for a real solution. The people are no longer asking for promises, inspections or symbolic repairs. They are asking for accountability, transparency and infrastructure that serves the public instead of merely creating the illusion of action.

 

Earlier, when ‘The Hitavada’ spoke to Vivek Telrande, Deputy Engineer, NMC, he assured that the road will be repaired properly, but now, when contacted again, he claimed that the road project comes under Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) and not Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The question persists that if the project comes under NIT, why would NMC claim to fix the road which is not under its jurisdiction.