Futala Fountain to get Fixed Soon; Cables Replacement by January 10
Khalatkar Construction Company (KCC), the contractor for the Futala fountain and multimedia show, will begin replacing damaged cables on December 5. Maha Metro, yet to officially take over the fountain, has instructed KCC to install new wires by January 10. The floating stage and artificial banyan tree, constructed by Maha Metro at a cost of 13.37 crore, are expected to be ready by the same date.
Wiring work will be conducted under the supervision of officials from the French company Crystal Fountains, which originally installed the fountain equipment. The French team will be present from December 5 to 20. The Metro aims to commission the fountain by the last week of January, conducting trial runs after January 10 before opening it to the public.
The damaged wires, infested with algae in May, will be replaced with double-insulated cables, as advised by experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Powai. Plans to prevent algae reinfestation by next summer are underway, with the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) being consulted for a solution.
Maha Metro has submitted a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) to Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) for the handover of the fountain to a special purpose vehicle (SPV). The SPV, led by a senior Metro officer, will include officers from NIT, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), and Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krushi Vidyapeeth (PDKV). A committee comprising representatives from these agencies will manage the fountain's operation. The decision to involve an SPV stems from NIT's delay in wire replacement. NIT is seeking clarification on aspects of the MoU before finalizing it.
Concerns about the revenue generation potential of shops below the spectator gallery have been raised, emphasizing the need for leasing to businesses specializing in Nagpur's specialities. Discussions with Maha Metro are expected to explore ways to make the project self-sustainable without further financial support from government agencies.
-t-thumb.jpeg)