The Times of India              04.06.2013

Nashik Municipal Corporation decides to take up road works on its own

NASHIK: With uncertainty looming large over prompt disbursement of adequate funds for infrastructure projects in the city for preparations for the forthoming Kumbh mela, the cash-strapped Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to take up the work of creating the first ring road under its jurisdiction.

The civic body has decided to the start the process of inviting tenders on its own and the actual work is expected to begin after the monsoon. The project will be executed under the deferred payment scheme due to paucity of funds.

Speaking to TOI, a senior NMC official said, "We have decided to develop ring roads and other major roads in the city through deferred payment scheme of Rs 250 crore. We are in the process of inviting tenders for the ring roads and other roads. The tender process will be completed and the contract will be awarded shortly so that the actual work can begin right after the rainy season."

He further said, "It is still not clear as to when we will get funds for the Kumbh mela from the state government. The roads will be developed by the time the mela commences in 2015 if we start work right now. Hence, we don't want to waste any more time and will have to undertake the road works through the deferred payment scheme."

Among other major roads, the NMC has given priority for creating the first inner ring road in the city with a total length of 20.3 km. The road will start and end at Lekhanagar, via Rajsarthi, Vijay Mamta junction, Takligaon, Sangam bridge, Aurangabad Road, Amrutdham, Gunjal farm, MERI, Makhmalabad Road, Kranti Nagar, Indraprastha bridge, Old Gangapur naka, ABB Circle - City Centre mall and Manoharnagar.

Civic officials said that to create the ring road, they will have to first clear blockages on the routes in five places — Makhmalabad canal, Gunjalbaba Nagar (locations between Tarwalanagar and Hirawadi backside), Talkli bridge, Untawadi Mhasoba bridge and NAMCO cancer hospital.

Some road works whose expenditure would amount to Rs 250 crore will be carried out through the deferred payment scheme. The period of completion of road works under the scheme will be two years and the NMC would pay the expenditure incurred to the contractor concerned in equal installments over a period of five years after the construction of the road is completed.