Brief showers turn roads into muddy tracks in Besa-Pipla ward 5

Nagpur: A brief spell of rain on Saturday turned several internal roads into muddy stretches at ward 5 of Besa-Pipla Nagar Panchayat, represented by its vice-president Naresh Bhoyar. Residents were frustrated as the roads became nearly non-motorable.Residents of Shri Sai Nagari and adjoining areas alleged that even 15 to 20 minutes of rain is enough to transform roads into a slushy route, trapping two-wheelers and making daily commuting a nightmare. Locals claimed that several vehicles got stuck in the sludge, with three to four people often required to pull them free.The situation sparked concerns among residents ahead of the monsoon season. They fear conditions could become far worse once heavy rains begin. Residents also alleged that the issue has persisted for years despite repeated complaints to authorities and claimed that elected representatives have failed to provide a permanent solution.The problem is linked to an underground drainage project underway in the area for the past two months. To facilitate the laying of drainage pipelines, roads across parts of Shri Sai Nagari were excavated with heavy machinery. However, residents alleged that after the pipelines were laid, no proper road restoration work was carried out.Now, the loose soil has turned into thick sludge after the rain, disrupting movement of both vehicles and pedestrians. Some motorists reportedly struggled for hours to move their vehicles before eventually abandoning them on the road. Residents said the condition has made access to homes difficult and raised concerns about emergency services reaching the locality during heavy rains.Bhoyar said the issue stems from drainage works being undertaken by the Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA). "This is not limited to my ward alone. NMRDA has dug up roads across Besa-Pipla for the drainage project. This is a major drainage chamber work and could not be avoided. I have instructed NMRDA officials to remove the sludge and ensure temporary repairs using gravel and bitumen so that residents do not face severe inconvenience during monsoon," Bhoyar said.