The story published on May 11 in the CityLine regarding installation of green nets at various city squares deserves appreciation for highlighting the ground reality behind this initiative. The concept itself is undoubtedly thoughtful and citizen-friendly. Providing shade to two-wheeler riders and traffic personnel during Nagpur’s harsh summer is a welcome idea. However, the problem lies in the poor and unplanned execution, due to which the entire concept appears to have backfired. The first and most obvious question is: why were these green nets installed only in the month of May, when Nagpur starts experiencing scorching heat from the end of March itself? By the time the work was initiated, citizens had already endured the peak summer for nearly two months.

 

Moreover, Nagpur generally receives its first spell of rain by the end of June, making the delayed implementation even more questionable. Unfortunately, the contractors seem to have focused only on completing the installation work mechanically, without assessing the practical difficulties being created on the roads. At several locations, bamboo poles used for supporting the nets are obstructing traffic movement and, in some cases, even posing safety hazards and increasing the risk of accidents. In many areas, the nets have already been torn, yet no effort is visible to repair or replace them. Overall, while the intention behind the project is commendable, its careless and poorly planned implementation has turned a good public welfare initiative into an inconvenience for citizens, resulting in unnecessary wastage of taxpayers’ money.