The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has launched a fresh drive to dechoke over 1,160 trees and lay roadside kerbing across four city zones. While the goal is to promote tree health and streamline footpaths, the move raises eyebrows for its timing and cost—especially as many of these roads were recently built or repaired.
The ongoing work spans Dhantoli, Nehru Nagar, Hanuman Nagar, and Ashi Nagar, with a combined project cost of nearly ₹48 lakh. Ironically, parts of these roads were laid just months ago, and are now being dug up again—this time to clear soil and cement around tree bases.
In Zone 4 (Dhantoli), 300 trees will be dechoked at a cost of ₹13.09 lakh—averaging ₹4,365 per tree. In Nehru Nagar, 600 trees will be treated for ₹20.78 lakh, or ₹3,463 per tree. Hanuman Nagar and Ashi Nagar will see 130 trees each dechoked, costing ₹6.71 lakh and ₹7.10 lakh respectively, with per-tree costs crossing ₹5,000.
Critics argue this reflects poor planning: “First crores are spent building roads, then more money is shelled out to dig them up again,” said a local resident. “This could’ve been done before road laying.”
Officials claim the initiative will improve air circulation, water absorption, and tree life. They also say the work will help shape footpaths and reduce root damage. Yet, without coordination between departments, the public sees only wasteful spending and avoidable disruption.
NMC says similar drives are planned in other zones—but unless inter-departmental planning improves, citizens fear the cycle of build-destroy-rebuild will continue, at the taxpayer’s expense.
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