NMC claims to have filled 8,711 potholes last year

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation's hotmix department claimed to have repaired 8,711 potholes on tar roads across the city during the last financial year. This translates to an average of 24 potholes being filled per day using two jet patcher machines and its own hotmix plant exposing poor road conditions across Nagpur. The Dharampeth zone recorded the highest number of pothole repairs — 1,689 — between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, according to data from the hotmix department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The figures reflect not only heavy road damage but also a growing civic void since the dissolution of the NMC's general body in March 2022.

For over three years, the civic administration functioned in auto-pilot mode, with no corporators to monitor local works or push for timely road repairs. Earlier, elected corporators ensured routine renovation of tar roads and escalated complaints from citizens. Their absence led to neglected maintenance, patchy repairs, and crumbling infrastructure citywide.

While Dharampeth emerged as the worst-hit zone in terms of potholes, Laxmi Nagar (1,065 potholes) and Gandhibagh (1,013) also reported worrying figures. Together, all 10 zones accounted for 8,711 pothole repairs, exposing deep cracks — literally and figuratively — in the city's road management system.

The potholes were repaired using hotmix asphalt, instant patching, and jet patchers. However, the use of technology was not enough to compensate for the lack of proactive oversight and consistent field monitoring. In contrast, Hanuman Nagar (413 potholes) and Nehru Nagar (528) reported lower repair counts, though officials admit that may not necessarily reflect better road conditions — underreporting or incomplete surveys could be a factor.

Residents across zones increasingly raised complaints about the poor quality of roads, especially after rains, and the failure of temporary patchwork. In the absence of corporators, they often find themselves with no one to hold accountable.

The numbers sparked concern ahead of the civic elections, expected to be announced later this year. As frustration builds over civic neglect, road quality may become a central election issue, especially in zones where potholes outnumber promises.

BUMPY RIDE

| Zone Name | Total Potholes Repaired |

| ------------- | ----------------------- |

| Laxmi Nagar | 1065 |

| Dharampeth | 1689 |

| Hanuman Nagar | 413|

| Dhantoli | 745 |

| Nehru Nagar | 528 |

| Gandhibagh | 1013 |

| Sataranjipura | 568 |

| Lakadganj | 835 |

| Ashi Nagar | 950 |

| Mangalwari | 905 |

| Total | 8711 |