MNGL has been laying underground gas pipelines in Nashik since 2018 and currently holds permission to install pipelines over nearly 740km within municipal limits. Of this, about 640km has been completed, while around 100km remains pending.
The civic body believes the restrictions are necessary to prevent further deterioration of roads and ensure that ongoing improvement works are not undermined ahead of the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nashik | Silver Rate in Nashik | Bank Holidays in Nashik | Public Holidays in Nashik | Petrol Price in Nashik | Diesel Price in Nashik | CNG Price in Nashik | LPG Price in Nashik Stay updated with the latest Nashik news.
However, civic officials said the proposal is unlikely to receive immediate approval. “NMC’s priority at present is to complete Kumbh-related infrastructure projects and restore damaged roads before permitting any further utility-related excavation,” officials said. Nashik : The civic body has directed Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd not to undertake any fresh road excavation work in the city until the end of Ganeshotsav, amid mounting complaints over potholes and damaged roads caused by utility projects. The decision comes as Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd (MNGL) has sought permission to excavate around 103km of roads to expand its piped natural gas network and provide nearly two lakh additional domestic gas connections in Nashik. Khatri has directed the company to refrain from any excavation work until Ganeshotsav concludes and reiterated the need for GIS maps and other technical details. They added that a decision on MNGL’s proposal would be taken only after assessing its impact on ongoing civic works and road conditions. Download the TOI App.
The civic body’s move gains significance as Nashik is already witnessing large-scale road and infrastructure works linked to preparations for the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela. MNGL has been laying underground gas pipelines in Nashik since 2018 and currently holds permission to install pipelines over nearly 740km within municipal limits. Around 47,000 domestic gas connections have been provided in the city so far, according to information submitted by MNGL. The company informed NMC that permission to excavate road-crossing points over a 3km stretch would help it provide another 1 lakh connections.
Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) commissioner Manisha Khatri has instructed the company to first submit Geographic Information System (GIS) maps of its underground pipeline network and fulfil pending obligations before any fresh permissions are considered. Officials fear additional digging could further worsen road conditions and inconvenience residents. Of this, about 640km has been completed, while around 100km remains pending. Road excavation by the company has repeatedly drawn criticism from residents and corporators, particularly during the monsoon when potholes and damaged roads disrupted traffic across the city. During the last general body meeting, corporators across party lines blamed MNGL for the city’s deteriorating roads. The company, however, maintained that its works were being carried out as per approved norms. Following these complaints, NMC directed MNGL to complete pending pipeline work before large-scale road restoration projects begin and sought GIS mapping of the entire network for better coordination of future infrastructure works. It has separately sought approval for excavating nearly 100km of roads to extend the network to an additional one lakh households.