Despite the fountain project failing to take off at Futala lake, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is attempting to repeat it at Gandhisagar lake. NMC officials are claiming that they have taken corrective measures but nobody is able to pinpoint those steps. The musical fountain is planned at a sight where NMC once brought ‘Khaugalli’ project. ‘Khaugalli’ was inaugurated with much fanfare on January 9, 2020 and it proved to be lost cause. Now, at the same place, the musical fountain is coming up.

 

The beautification project at Gandhisagar is already running late. The area where the musical fountain is planned gives a bad impression as the dismantled Khaugalli structure is lying exposed. Administration did not explain what has happened to Khaugalli project and is now forcing musical fountain upon this old lake. Whenever such projects are planned, nobody takes pain to seek people’s suggestion. Nobody thinks whether people really want such projects or not. Nobody gives a thought to the peoples’ wish that they want neat and clean lakes, which can be viewed as a natural waterbody. With much hype, musical fountain had come up at Futala lake, for which, the authorities spent a lot of money. According to sources, NEERI had red-flagged this project. Defying this, the administration went ahead and developed a musical fountain, G+6 parking and other paraphernalia.

 

The show was conducted for some time, but the people approached court and the administration suspended it. It has been 7 months since the court verdict came in favour of administration, but it has not taken any step. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari himself had admitted that the project suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 15 crore. The project was an abject failure. It was a good learning experience for the authorities. Phase-2: Aesthetic and recreational upgrades: The NMC is now shifting focus to Phase-2, which aims to transform the lake into a major recreational hub as a work order for musical fountain, worth Rs 4.54 crore, was issued in December 2025. Along with the fountain, a proposal for a Rs 6.63-crore viewing gallery is currently awaiting final approval. Future plans include a pathway near the popular Khau Galli, a social hall at the Bal Bhavan site, construction of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), and the beautification of Naatik Chowk. A major question remains unanswered that, just to complete its phase 1, the civic body took nearly four years. How many more years will it take to complete the phase 2 of the rejuvenation project.