Nagpur: With general elections approaching, Union transport minister and city MP Nitin Gadkari seems to be in a hurry to perform bhoomipuja of several developmental works before the model code of conduct comes into force.Gadkari held a meeting on Tuesday regarding projects like widening of Kelibagh road, Old Bhandara road, Gaddigodam road, Pardi flyover, Indora Chowk-Ashok Square flyover etc. When the public works department (PWD) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials told him that not much progress was achieved in most of the projects, a peeved Gadkari gave them an earful.The minister severely reprimanded the top officials and told them that he wanted to perform bhoomipuja of these projects by February 15 as the elections might be announced any time after February 20.The review meeting started with discussion on the present status of Pardi flyover. Gadkari expressed anguish when the collector’s office, state’s public works department and Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s town planning department blamed each other over land acquisition status of 2.40 hectare required for the project. Visibly unhappy over the town planning department’s lackadaisical attitude, the Union minister threatened to suspend assistant director town planning Pramod Gawande or else he should opt for voluntary retirement if the department’s functioning doesn’t improve.He later directed all concerned agencies to speed up the land acquisition process and property valuation within eight days. “Land acquisition for the project should commence from January 25,” he said, adding the work of property acquisition should be completed before February 10 so that bhoomipuja of the Pardi road widening can be held on February 15.A representative of shopkeepers led by Manoj Agrawal and Batukbhai Bagde urged Gadkari to direct the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to acquire only 1.5 metres land by the roadside instead of proposed 3 metres. “Acquiring 1.5 metres land including footpath apart from the existing road would suffice the road widening requirement,” they said. To this, Gadkari said the road should be constructed keeping the future requirement in sight so that it does not lead to accidents. He assured to look into their demand.Gadkari also directed the concerned officials to invite tenders for Kelibagh road, Old Bhandara road, Gaddigodam to Teka Naka road, Dighori to Nagpur city road within a week. The state government has already provided Rs600 crore for land acquisition for all these road widening projects, Gadkari said.He also expressed anguish over slow progress of 20 road projects including seven railway underbridges under Central Road Fund for which the central government has provided Rs1,882 crore. Of them, tenders were invited for 11 works. To this, the city MP directed the public works department to speed up the process.About rehabilitation of shopkeepers of Kelibagh road, the minister said that all the affected shopkeepers will be rehabilitated in Mahal Budhwar Bazaar shopping complex. Tender for the project will be invited within eight days, he added. On similar lines, Gadkari also asked the NMC to develop Budhwar Bazaar in Sakkardara.Railway station road developmentTo convince the railway station flyover shopkeepers, MahaMetro has displayed the redevelopment model. Gadkari assured the shopkeepers that they will be rehabilitated in the new complex coming up at MPSRTC and MSRTC land and asked them to support demolition of the existing flyover. He also directed the MahaMetro to go ahead with the demolition of the existing flyover.Gadkari also reviewed redevelopment projects of Yeshwant Stadium and under tunnel with viewing gallery at Futala promenade.He also reviewed Yeshwant Stadium redevelopment project and under tunnel with viewing gallery at Futala promenade.

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