Land ownership, train halt among key demands at Gadkari’s Janta darbar

Nagpur: Frustrated by bureaucratic delays and civic apathy, residents, farmers and even youngsters from across Vidarbha on Sunday approached Union minister Nitin Gadkari to seek resolution for various issues. During the Janta Darbar held at Gadkari's Khamla office, nearly 200 residents of Kundanlal Gupta Nagar reported that they are still not recognized as legal owners in govt records despite living in the area for 50 years. "Our only demand is rightful ownership," said Mangesh Satpurkar, a resident. Some citizens cited hurdles in getting ownership of plots and slum dwellings despite having been allotted land. A delegation from Khapri revealed that only 50% of their settlement has been rehabilitated, leaving the remaining half in constant fear of eviction.Wardha resident Aadarsh Sharma pointed out that people have to take a detour of several kilometers just to reach a main road barely 200 meters away from his society. "We even have to pay unnecessary toll," said Sharma. Bhandara resident Ramesh Supare requested restoration of superfast train stops at the Bhandara railway station. "Express trains do not halt here for the past 20 years, causing significant inconvenience to commuter," said Supare.Farmers from Hingna requested a bridge over a local drain to ensure seasonal access to their fields. Chandrashekhar Bhende, representing 250 sugarcane farmers, sought financial aid to deepen a stream that irrigates the farms, which overflows in the monsoon and dries up in summer.Senior citizens sought assistance with govt schemes like the Shravan Bal and Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana. Simultaneously, persons with disabilities submitted petitions for prosthetic limbs and support services, to which Gadkari responded with orders for immediate aid.Gadkari also reviewed presentations from young innovators focused on Electric Vehicles (EVs), battery technology, and highway amenities. Praising their ingenuity, Gadkari instructed officials to explore these ideas.Officials from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, district collectorate, and Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), were also present.