NMC to spend Rs135cr to repair roads dug up for utility works

Nashik: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC)will spend around Rs135 crore in the current financial year to repair roads which were dug up by the Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd (MNGL) and other agencies for various utility works.The MNGL has dug up roads in various parts of the city for laying piped natural gas (PNG) pipelines. The roads were levelled by the MNGL, but they are still uneven causing inconvenience to the residents. Large portions of the road have also been dug up by the utility agencies for various works. Although some trenches were filled after completion of the utility work, residents said the patches were not levelled properly, leaving the roads in poor shape.Commuters in various parts of the city, including Panchavati division, Gangapur Road, Nashik Road, Nashik West and adjoining localities, have reported increasing inconvenience as the uneven surfaces slow down traffic and heighten the risk of skidding and accidents. Residents have also pointed out that repeated digging by different agencies without adequate coordination has worsened the condition of the internal roads, particularly in residential colonies.The NMC collects road damage charges from MNGL and other agencies for the road digging for their utility works. The amount collected are spent on road repairs. The NMC has made provision of Rs75 crore for the next financial year 2026-27 to carry out the repair works of roads that were dug up by the MNGL. Moreover, a financial provision of Rs60 crore was made for the current financial year 2025-26, but these funds are yet to be used.Speaking to a reporters, municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri said agencies have been finalized through the tender process and work orders have been given to the contractors concerned for repairing the roads. The repair works are to be carried out in the next few months."Apart from the dug up roads, potholes are also to be repaired. The works will soon to be undertaken in the city," Khatri said.