NMC awaits HC’s final order on shops under ‘Design Disaster’

 

 

 

NAGPUR Municipal Corporation (NMC) is awaiting formal orders from Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court for initiating demolition of the Tekdi Road fly-over as a petition by some of the shopkeepers still remains to be decided. Milind Meshram, Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), while talking to The Hitavada, mentioned that though the High Court has orally directed the shop-owners to vacate the shops, a part of the petition is still to decided finality.The petition of 35 shopkeepers is listed for final hearing on July 10, 2023. Thereafter, the High Court will dictate the order. Once the order copy is received, the NMC will resume the process to demolish the‘Design Disaster.’ The High Court observed that since Maha Metro has already constructed shops at alternate site, the shopkeepers cannot object to the same. The shopkeepers were also directed to either accept the financial compensation offered by NMC or take possession of the shops that are constructed at the land of MSRTC, adjoining Nagpur Railway Station. As such there plea challenging notices issues by NMC to vacate the shops was rejected by the High Court. While the shopkeepers are ready to abide by the High Court’s directive, they have raised a contention about future of project envisaged by Public Works Department (PWD) for construction of 200 shops complex near the Nagpur Railway Station for their rehabilitation. Also, PWD has proposed a multi-layered parking plaza opposite Tekdi Ganesh Mandir. For the same, PWD has to file an affidavit. 

 

The joint affidavit by PWD on the two projects would shed light on its plan and High Court would then provide clarity on the demolition process. The fly-over built was by NMC post-demolition of shops in front of Nagpur Railway Station, on the western side. Nearly 171 shops were constructed under the fly-over, and the same were allotted on long lease. About 17 shops remained vacant as there were no takers as business persons were apprehensive of sales on the street. The fly-over instead of providing any solution to traffic congestion added to the mess at Jaistambh Square and Manas Square. The presence of shops below the flyover was an eyesore, mostly the eateries functioning in most unhygenic way. The waste water from the eateries used to be thrown off on the cement road and it gave a negative outlook for outstation visitors to city as after emerging from railway station they were greeted by foul stench due to the stagnant water on the stretch. Especially, due to narrow road, movement of heavy vehicles, including buses, was problematic on the road stretch. Even city buses could not operate from the popular Western side of Nagpur Railway Station due to congestion in the railway's circulating area and chaos on the roads.

 

To make matters worse the parking of auto-rickshaws outside the railway compound About 52 shopkeepers have preferred cash compensation offered by NMC that differedas per shop’s carpet area andit ranged from Rs six to Rs 12lakh. Also, it depended on theone time deposit made by themwhile applying for the shop, said Meshram. So far, NMC has disbursedabout Rs 5 crore to Rs 5.50 crore, and nine more shopkeepersamong the 17, who hadapproached Sessions Court, have gone for compensationafter their plea for stay was dismissed. In all, about Rs 6 crore to Rs6.50 crore cash compensationis going to be provided, whichincluded interest as per the resolution of NMC House. Maha Metro had constructed 111 shops on the land of MSRTC oppositeGanesh Tekdi Mandir, and most of them have beenallotted through lottery system by theNMC. Meanwhile, for thedemolition to startthe traffic movement on theTekdi Road would need to bebanned or diverted fromJaistambh Square. With Yshaped fly-over in place at Jaistambh Square now there isno major issue as to diversionof traffic as same can movethoroughly to RBI and LICSquare. Only the travellersmovement to and fro at NagpurRailway Station would need tobe regulated to someextent. This can be done byallowing two way movementfrom Jaistambh Square till exit gate onWestern side of the station. This is quite possible asentry point towards station circulating area from outside isquite wide and would not causeany commotion at the T-point, feels the experts.