Nagpur is experiencing intense heat with temperatures exceeding 44°C, but relief for commuters waiting at traffic signals is delayed. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) initiative to install green shade nets at key junctions has encountered an unusual obstacle: the ongoing West Bengal elections.
Project Progress and Delays
After weeks of delay and criticism, the civic body approved the proposal and began work at a few junctions. Installations are underway at Indora Chowk, Telephone Exchange Square, Tukdoji Putla, and Chhapru Nagar Chowk, while RBI Square is scheduled for night work. However, progress remains slow.
Workforce Dependence on West Bengal
The slow pace is due to reliance on skilled migrant workers from West Bengal, who are experts in assembling large frames and ensuring structural stability. A senior NMC official stated, "They are experts at this work and extremely fast. Most of the workforce comes from Bengal. But with elections underway, many have returned home, creating a sudden manpower gap."
Contractors are struggling to fill the void or waiting for workers to return after polling ends in early May. Even where work has started, limited hands have slowed progress. Another official admitted, "We are trying to convince workers to come back, but even framing the structure takes time. This is not plug-and-play."
Project Details and Budget
The project has a budget of Rs 65 lakh, with each junction costing around Rs 4 lakh. Each structure spans about 9 metres in width and 20 metres in length, with a 45-day maintenance clause. The delay has exposed administrative gaps. Last summer, under an administrator's rule, nets were installed at eight junctions before peak heat. This year, despite an elected body, the proposal was stuck for over a month.
Bureaucratic Hurdles
Sources attribute the lag to bureaucratic red tape and lack of urgency. A source noted, "Crores were spent on oath-taking ceremonies and chamber renovations without approvals. Now expenditure will be tabled before the standing panel as post-approval, but a basic public relief measure got delayed." The ruling body could have fast-tracked the decision.
For now, Nagpur's commuters endure waiting at signals without shade as heat radiates from asphalt and concrete. The irony is clear: a city battling extreme heat is stalled by paperwork and polling.
