IS THE Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) really offering a practical solution to help commuters beat the harsh summer heat, or is the green net project turning into yet another temporary civic experiment without proper planning? This question is now being widely discussed after several green shade nets installed at busy city junctions collapsed during recent strong winds. The green nets, stretched over bamboo frames at major traffic squares, were meant to provide some relief to motorists waiting at traffic signals in temperatures crossing 45 degrees Celsius. While many commuters welcomed the idea, the poor execution is now drawing criticism.

 

 

The concept was inspired by a similar initiative introduced in Puducherry in early 2024. After videos of shaded traffic signals went viral on social media, many cities, including Nagpur, adopted the idea. But civic activists and commuters are now questioning whether NMC implemented the project without fully studying its safety,durability and long-term feasibility. At present,green nets have been installed at around 10 to 12major junctions across East,West,North, South and Central Nagpur. However,recent strong winds exposed the weak infrastructure behind the project.At several locations,the nets were either torn apart, had tilted dangerously or collapsed completely.Most of these structures are supported by bamboo poles tied with ropes. Over thelast few days,NMC workers have repeatedly been seen retying and tightening thenets after wind damage. “If the NMC has been working on this project for the last three years,why is there still no permanent design?” asked aretired police officer.

 

“These are high traffic junctions where thousands of vehicles pass everyday.If one of these bamboo structures falls on commuters during rush hour, who will be held responsible?” Safety is not the only for concern. Motorists and traffic officials say the bamboo structures arealso creating visibility problems at some junctions,especially for vehicles taking left turns. In certain areas,commuters claim the poles erected near the road are obstructing smooth traffic movement. The scale of implementation has also come under scrutiny. Nagpur has nearly 550 traffic squares and junctions,out of which around 171 havetraffic signals.Yet the green net project currently covers only a dozen sof locations.Manycitizens question whether such limited installations can make any real difference to the larger issue of heat exposure across the city. Meanwhile,the traffic police havealready started operating nearly 31 signals on blinker mode between2 pm and4 pm to reduce waiting time for motorists during peak afternoon heat.While the move has provided some relief, traffic experts believeit also highlights the lack of proper coordination between the NMC and the traffic department. This hasled to larger questions.

 

Why not build permanent heatresistant shelters at major junctions? Why rely on temporary bamboo structures instead of durable steel frames?Was any scientific study conducted on wind pressure, traffic movement or pedestrian safety before the installations began? A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity,admitted that Nagpur certainly needs innovativesolutions to deal with rising temperatures. However,the official also stressed that such civic experiments should not be carried out without proper durability studies and traffic safety audits. Commuters,too,have mixed reactions.“The shade definitely helps,especially for two-wheeler riders waiting at signals in the afternoon heat,”said a motorist near Sitabuldi.“Butif the nets keep collapsing every time strong winds blow,then they become more dangerous than useful.”

 

Thematter also comes atatime when issues related to faulty traffic signals and traffic management are already being discussed before the High Court. Urban planners say the city needs along-term heat action plan instead of seasonal temporary fixes.Green activists have suggested alternatives such as permanent tensile roof structures,shaded pedestrian zones, smart trafficsignalsystems,urban tree plantations and scientifically designed commuter shelters. Fornow,the NMC continues repairing damaged nets and reinstalling them at junctions across the city. But one question still remains unanswered: is Nagpur genuinely addressing the problem of extreme heat, or simply trying to cover it up with temporary green cloth?