When Nagpur’s streets go dark

 

 

 

Nagpur, often touted as a burgeoning metro, finds itself handling an ironic ordeal—long stretches of streets and flyovers plunged into darkness at night due to dysfunctional streetlights. Citizens who once celebrated infrastructural upgrades during high-profile events like the Civil 20 Inception meeting under G20 are now left wondering that is development only a spectacle for dignitaries, or is it meant to serve city’s everyday needs? Vigilant citizens informed ‘The Hitavada’ about various streets across the city, including the Wardha Road lane and the Manish Nagar flyover near The Pride Hotel, Dhantoli’s internal streets, and Nandanvan Main Road, which remain unlit during night hours. The absence of proper lighting exacerbates the already rising number of accidents in the city. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorists are left vulnerable as they cross these dimly lit or dark stretches of road. “Streetlights are fully operational during the occasions significant to higher authorities.

 

Why cannot the same standards of maintenance be upheld year-round?,” questioned a citizen. Rajeev Jagtap, President of Janmanch, pointed out that the lack of illumination was not only dangerous for commuters but also for stray animals like cows, buffaloes, and dogs. “The absence of light creates opportunities for anti-social activities, such as chain-snatching, eve-teasing, and groups of individuals engaging in drinking, and they are at risk of being attacked in dark. People who commute late from work and rely on bicycles also feel unsafe,” stated Jagtap. He added that, in poorly lit areas, drivers often use high beams, which impair visibility for others on the road and increase the likelihood of accidents. Jagtap asserted that Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) must not wait for citizens to lodge complaints but rather have a proactive approach.

 

“NMC employees should conduct regular inspections, ensuring that any non-functional streetlight is repaired within 48 hours,” he demanded. Jagtap noted that during road construction, cables often get damaged, which might justify a slight delay in repairs. However, he stressed that streetlights remaining non-functional for many days is unacceptable in today’s era of technological advancements. Such delays should remain exceptions, not the norm.

 

“There is no fear of punishment for negligence within the department concerned,” remarked Jagtap. Anand Harkare, a Geologist and a resident of Narendra Nagar, observed that there were new poles installed near Manish Nagar locality but lights were rarely functional. “Some streetlights were installed by NMC, some by PWD, and others by NHAI, but there seems to be no coordination among them. Each department shifts responsibility onto the other for repair work,” he pointed out. Harkare suggested a responsive complaint redressal mechanism for residents such as displaying contact numbers of authorities on poles for citizens to reach out to, similar to the facility he observed during his time in Dubai. ‘The Hitavada’ tried contacting the civic authorities concerned to know the exact reason behind these non-functional streetlights and to understand the current status, but received no response.