After accidents and objections, trees obstructing Besa-Pipla road removed Nagpur: After months of debate and a series of accidents, authorities removed two Gulmohar trees standing in the middle of the busy Besa-Pipla main road on Tuesday night, bringing relief to commuters and motorists. Several mishaps had been reported at the spot over the past few months. The recent accident on Monday night renewed calls for removal of these trees. Despite the risks, authorities had earlier held back from taking action due to strong objections from environmental activists. A senior Public Works Department (PWD) official told TOI that all mandatory procedures were followed before the trees were cut. "We identify and mark trees based on their location and whether they fall within the road alignment. A public notice is issued, and objections, if any, are considered. Only after discussions and due approvals do we proceed," the official said. He added that compensatory plantation will be undertaken in line with norms. "The ratio generally depends on the size and type of tree. In this case, we will plant 14 trees as compensation. Once the road work is completed, we will take up fresh plantation along the stretch, either through PWD or the Nagar Panchayat, which will also benefit pedestrians," he said. Officials noted that certain species like banyan and peepal trees require additional consideration due to their ecological and cultural significance. The move has drawn mixed reactions from residents. N Cherian, a Pipla resident, said the trees could have been preserved through alternative measures. "Instead of cutting the trees, authorities could have barricaded them properly. Now, compensatory plantation must be ensured," he said.#public_works_department #besa_pipla_road #environmental_activists #nagar_panchayat #bharat_nandanwar
Deadline Missed, Besa–Pipla ‘Death Road’ Remains a Hazard Amid Delays Nagpur: The much-anticipated concretisation of Besa-Pipla Road has missed its mid-March deadline, prolonging commuter woes and raising serious safety concerns along the busy stretch. The project, initially scheduled for completion between February and March, remains incomplete, with officials now pushing the revised deadline to the end of April. The road has increasingly gained notoriety as a ‘killer road’ following a fatal accident involving 72-year-old Rangrao Patil. Uneven surfaces and ongoing construction activity have made the stretch highly accident-prone, with near-misses occurring daily. Daily commuters complain that the delays have significantly increased travel time while exposing them to constant risk. “I’ve personally witnessed multiple near-miss accidents on this road in the past few weeks. The lanes are unclear due to construction, and during peak hours, vehicles get stuck in long queues, increasing frustration and risky driving,” said Madan Sahajwani, a local grocer. Despite the infusion of additional funds, including support under Union minister Nitin Gadkari’s Central Road Fund, progress on the ground has been slow. According to a senior source from the Public Works Department (PWD), only one side of the road is nearing completion, while work on the other side remains pending. “Barely 10 to 20 metres of work is left on one side, but the March deadline could not be met due to fund constraints that temporarily halted the project. The curing process is complete, and only paving block laying remains on that stretch,” the official said. The source added that both sides of the road are now expected to be fully concretised by the end of April, provided there are no further interruptions.#nitin_gadkari #public_works_department #besa_pipla_road #rangrao_patil #central_road_fund
