07 August,2026 04:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
During the review meeting, CM Fadnavis said the public expects practical solutions rather than explanations for delays. File Pic
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday directed officials to take strict action against agencies responsible for poor road conditions in Nashik, warning that contractors failing to repair potholes should face penalties and be barred from future government work, reported the PTI.
The chief minister issued the directions while reviewing preparations for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
During the review meeting, CM Fadnavis said the public expects practical solutions rather than explanations for delays.
He instructed officials across departments to take responsibility for their work and ensure that civic issues are resolved promptly.
"Do not tell people the reasons. Give them solutions," the chief minister said, adding that a casual approach to public services would not be accepted, according to the PTI.
CM Fadnavis also directed officers to spend more time on the ground instead of remaining in their offices.
He asked them to interact regularly with citizens, inspect development works personally and address local concerns more effectively, the news agency reported.
Expressing concern over the condition of roads in Nashik, the chief minister said agencies that fail to repair potholes despite being assigned the work should face financial penalties and be disqualified from receiving future government contracts, as per the PTI.
He noted that although significant public funds had been spent on development projects, continued public dissatisfaction suggested shortcomings in implementation.
CM Fadnavis said he would hold another review meeting after one month and expected noticeable improvements in the performance of all departments by then.
He emphasised that preparations for the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela, scheduled to be held from 31 October 2026 to 24 July 2028, must be completed efficiently to ensure better infrastructure and public services for devotees, the news agency reported.
Meanwhile, earlier, Fadnavis had said that the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik will be the most digitally advanced yet environmentally responsible gathering.
He has stated that his government aims to organise the most digitally savvy Kumbh Mela on the banks of the Godavari River with maximum use of technology while rejecting concerns over ecological damage.
The Maharashtra CM further asserted that the state government wants to leverage technology to manage large crowds efficiently at the Nashik Kumbh Mela despite space constraints as compared to Prayagraj, where the mega religious gathering was organised in 2025 across a sprawling 4,000-hectare area.
(with PTI inputs)
