Nagpur: Roads dug up soon after being freshly laid could soon become a thing of the past, with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) making provision for utility ducts and rainwater harvesting shafts mandatory in all new road development and cement-concrete road projects.
In a circular issued on Sept 24, chief engineer Lina Upadhye directed that every estimate prepared for new road works, irrespective of its cost, must include provisions for utility ducts and rainwater harvesting shafts. Under the new specifications, two 150-mm diameter DWC, concrete or HDPE pipes are to be laid on both sides of roads at the prescribed depth for utility services such as OFC and electricity cables. Chambers will have to be provided every 30 metres to facilitate installation and maintenance of utilities without repeatedly digging up the road. During a discussion with representatives of Haryana City Gas Pvt Ltd on Sept 2, the company reportedly informed NMC officials that ducts were not required for gas pipelines. ROADWORK RULES Utility ducts mandatory in all new road projects 150-mm pipes on both sides for OFC/electric cables Utility chambers every 30 metres Rainwater harvesting shafts compulsory No approval without these provisions Gas pipelines exempted from duct provision You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nagpur | Silver Rate in Nagpur | Bank Holidays in Nagpur | Public Holidays in Nagpur | Petrol Price in Nagpur | Diesel Price in Nagpur | CNG Price in Nagpur | LPG Price in Nagpur Stay updated with the latest Nagpur news.
The NMC said improper refilling of such trenches often leaves potholes and uneven surfaces, leading to traffic problems and complaints from citizens. The civic body said future gas pipelines could instead be laid in paving blocks along the roadside. No road estimate will be approved if these provisions are missing. Apart from NMC, this circular will be applicable to all road-owning agencies including Nagpur Improvement Trust, MahaMetro, NHAI and State PWD. The move comes against the backdrop of repeated excavation of newly constructed roads by various agencies to lay optical fibre cables, electricity lines and other utilities. The issue has also drawn criticism from the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court. The directive will also apply to road works already in progress. If utility ducts and rainwater harvesting shafts were not included in their original estimates, the civic body will have to obtain approval for the additional items and incorporate them into the ongoing works. The NMC has, however, excluded gas pipelines from the duct requirement. The circular warned that officials must not approve estimates that do not contain the mandatory provisions. If an estimate is found to have been approved without them, action will be proposed against those responsible as per rules. The directive was issued with the approval of municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar. Download the TOI App.