Dug-up roads for gas pipelines and CCTV cables create problems for pedestrians and motorists in Nashik city

Nashik: Septuagenarian Sushma Rajput, a diabetic, walks near her house in Tidke Colony but finds the road hazardous with fast-moving traffic on one side and loose gravel from an ongoing gas pipeline and CCTV project on the other side.
She said the loose gravel has remained untouched for nearly three months, adding to the woes of pedestrians and motorists alike.
"Hundreds of motorists and pedestrians use the road. Despite the presence of commercial and residential buildings, the Nashik Municipal Corporation has turned a blind eye to the while issue," Rajput said.
The senior citizen said she could barely walk on the road as the sides have been dug up, and the carriageway does not permit pedestrians. "I raised the issue on the NMC's cellphone application, but to no avail," she said.
A similar situation is faced by Rakesh Patil, a resident of Kamatwada. "When we walk, impatient motorists continue to honk. It becomes even more dangerous during the night as the motorists use ‘high beam' without caring for other road users. The loose gravel is not visible in the night. Many pedestrians even fell on the road because of it," Patil (58), a retired govt employee, said.
The motorists have their own problems as they too are scared of driving on the gravel. "I can put my car on gravel so that pedestrians are safe, but the loose gravel, if caught between the road and the tyre, will fly like a bullets. We have to be very careful," Anish Sharma, a businessman, said. He added that Nashik Municipal Corporation should take an urgent note of the situation to avoid any distress to people.
A senior NMC official said the roads and the sides were dug up for laying gas pipelines or CCTV cables by the Smart City Corporation. The work of relaying the road is to be done by the corporation, which has floated a tender and work orders will be issued soon, the official said.
"In some cases, the tender has been floated, while in others, the work orders are yet to be given. The works will be carried out and completed before the onset of monsoon," the officer added.