Contractor Delays Jeopardize Nagpur's ₹260 Cr Cement Road Deadline.

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) ambitious ₹260 crore Phase-IV cement road project has encountered yet another hurdle, as several contractors have missed their initial deadlines. In a move that has drawn criticism, the NMC's public works department has extended timelines for contractors until December 2025 for packages 1, 2, and 4.

This phase of the project involves converting 33 major tar roads, ranging from 9 to 24 meters in width, into durable cement roads. These have been divided into 14 packages, spanning across various zones including Laxmi Nagar, Dharampeth, Mangalwari, Nehru Nagar, Ashi Nagar, Dhantoli, and Lakadganj. Crucial routes like Central Jail Road, Chhatrapati Square to Besa, Ajni to Sita Nagar, and Manish Nagar to Laxmi Nagar are part of this extensive undertaking.

Adding to the growing concerns, the contractor for Package 9 has also formally requested an extension. The original deadline for all 14 packages under Phase-IV was May 2025. However, with work progressing at a sluggish pace, officials privately admit that even the remaining packages are unlikely to meet their revised targets, suggesting that more extensions may be unavoidable.

These delays come at a particularly challenging time for Nagpur's motorists. Several under-construction roads are currently dug up or barricaded, exacerbating traffic problems, especially during the ongoing monsoon season. "Commuters are forced to negotiate muddy detours, leading to frequent traffic snarls and accidents," an anonymous NMC official stated, highlighting the daily struggles faced by residents.

Among the contractors granted extensions, M/s Drishti Structural Engineering Pvt Ltd, responsible for Package 1 (covering key roads in the Laxmi Nagar zone), and M/s RM Dayaramani, handling packages 2 and 4, have received extensions until December 2025. M/s PK Nagrare Constructions, executing Package 9 in the Dhantoli zone, also sought additional time due to delays.

Other contractors working on high-traffic city roads are also facing scrutiny for slow execution. Stretches like Ram Nagar and Dharampeth Jhenda Chowk to Adivasi Vikas Bhawan are also unlikely to meet their May 2025 deadlines, painting a grim picture for the timely completion of the entire project.