Ranchi: Questions are being raised in different circles on why the civic body is wasting crores of rupees to beautify footpaths with colourful paver blocks at Circular Road on the Raj Bhavan-Kantatoli stretch when the entire artery is all set to be widened.

Interestingly, last Sunday chief minister Raghubar Das had laid the foundation stone for the widening and renovating the 2.88-km stretch estimated to cost around Rs 90 crore.

"I don't understand why the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is laying paver blocks on this road. Aren't they aware that this artery will be completely broken to be widened," said Sudhir Verma, who lives opposite Ranchi Women's college.

A shopkeeper dealing with electronics goods on the roadside said the work began two months ago but continued at a snail's pace even a couple of weeks ago. "Although it has gained momentum again, but it makes no sense now since the road widening project has already been announced. There seems to be no coordination between departments," he said.

While the RMC is undertaking the pavering work, the road widening project will be implemented by the Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Company (JUIDCO), both arms of the state urban development department.

RMC superintendent engineer Bijay Kumar Bhagat said tenders for project were floated in in September-October last year and they were not aware about JUIDCO's project.

"Pavers will be laid on 11 roads at a cost of around Rs 2.40 crore, including repairing of drains in a couple of places. Some of the areas where the blocks are being laid include Circular Road, Dangratoli, Karbala Chowk, Bahu Bazar, Mission Chowk and HB Road among others," Bhagat said.

When asked whether beautifying the footpaths was a waste of money, Bhagat said, "Now that we are aware of JUIDCO's plan, we will talk to them and find out when work will commence and stop our work on Circular Road," he said.