Nagpur: The anti-encroachment drive on Godhani Road, duirng which NMC and other agencies cleared nearly 2.5km of the stretch on both sides, has brought the spotlight back on the controversial execution of the road-widening project, with Union minister Nitin Gadkari holding former elected representatives responsible for its inadequate width.The drive followed public outrage over a woman’s death in a road accident. Responding to a query from TOI on Friday, Gadkari said he had sanctioned the 4km Zingabai Takli-Bokhara road for cement concrete construction under the Central Road Fund (CRF), with an allocation of Rs35 crore. The road was originally planned to be widened to 60 feet, but only a 40-foot-wide road was constructed, defeating the purpose of the project and compromising its capacity to handle future traffic.Gadkari alleged that former elected representatives, driven by personal interests, ignored the city’s future infrastructure requirements and failed to ensure that the project was executed as originally planned.The issue came into sharp focus after Tuesday’s accident claimed the life of Ashwini alias Jyoti Pankaj Falke. It was reportedly the second fatal accident on the stretch in 34 days.Within hours of the accident, NMC launched demolitions, removing seven sheds, including one belonging to Garva Biryani Centre, during a late-night operation. After giving shopkeepers time to remove their structures voluntarily, the joint drive resumed on Friday.Following a review meeting on Nov 5, municipal commissioner directed NMC and NIT to launch a coordinated anti-encroachment operation from November 6 across Godhani Road, Zingabai Takli and Tower Road. All 10 NMC zonal anti-encroachment squads, the central squad and NIT’s team took part, backed by heavy police deployment.The operation targeted unauthorised structures, permanent constructions, roadside stalls and commercial activities in common marginal spaces between plots. Around 50-60 civic officers and employees from all 10 zones participated. Officials seized nearly a truckload of material, including four handcarts, while 70-80 permanent sheds were demolished using JCB machines.Around 40-50 hawkers reportedly resisted the action in the afternoon, but the teams continued the drive under police protection. Unauthorised handcarts and materials occupying footpaths and road margins were also removed.Meanwhile, traffic police imposed restrictions on heavy vehicles on the Zingabai Takli-Godhani village stretch between 6am and 10pm from November 6, following the fatal accidents.The administration is now under pressure to ensure that the cleared stretch remains free of encroachments and that the road’s originally sanctioned width is restored.FRIDAY’S ANTI-ENCROACHMENT DRIVERoad stretch cleared: Nearly 2.5kmPermanent sheds demolished: 70-80Handcarts seized: 4Seized material: Around one truckloadCivic personnel: 50-60 from 10 zones and central squadHawkers who opposed action: 40-50ROAD PROJECTZingabai Takli-Bokhara stretch: 4kmCRF allocation: Rs35 croreOriginally planned width: 60 feetWidth constructed: 40 feet
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