Nagpur: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari publicly criticized a corporator from his own party over a controversial signboard placed near a road excavation site in the city.
Speaking at a book launch event organized by the Indian Water Works Association at Hotel Centre Point, Gadkari highlighted the ongoing issue of frequent road digging in Nagpur, which often leads to accidents and public inconvenience.
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He recounted an incident from the Bhagwan Nagar area, where a corporator had installed a signboard around a large pothole stating, “Work in progress courtesy of me.” The irony, Gadkari pointed out, was that the pothole remained unattended for nearly two years, with the signboard still standing.
“I must admit, that foolish corporator was from my own party,” Gadkari said, adding that he eventually instructed the removal of the signboard as it was damaging the corporator’s reputation.
The event also marked the launch of the book “24×7 Water Supply Engineering,” authored by Dr. Sanjay Dahasahasra, Manisha Palande, and Komalika Gupta.
During his address, Gadkari acknowledged that the 24×7 water supply model has largely failed across the country but noted that Nagpur has seen partial success. “I brought this project to Nagpur, so I take responsibility. While there have been some positive outcomes, several shortcomings still exist,” he said.
He criticized the municipal administration for poor execution of infrastructure projects, stating that even basic decisions—such as selecting appropriate pipe sizes—are often mishandled. He emphasized that a well-prepared Detailed Project Report (DPR) is crucial for the success of such initiatives.
Gadkari also spoke about the importance of strong infrastructure in attracting investment and generating employment, while stressing the need for reforms in the water distribution sector.
On ongoing developments, he mentioned that work on the Nag River rejuvenation project is currently underway, with due technical and financial scrutiny being ensured.
“Poor Quality Work Due to Commission System”
Taking a sharp dig at the system, Gadkari blamed project consultants for substandard infrastructure work, especially in road construction. “Consultants have become a major problem. Many prepare project reports sitting at home using Google data,” he said.
He further alleged that corruption involving officials and contractors—through commission-based dealings—has led to poor-quality execution of projects.
“Many government officials don’t work; instead, they create obstacles. Perhaps we should start paying them allowances to stay away from offices,” he remarked sarcastically.
Gadkari also highlighted delays in policy-making, stating that it can take up to 25 years to finalize city development plans, leading to unauthorized layouts that later need regularization. He stressed that timely policy decisions are essential for planned urban growth.
