The sculptures, fountains and beauty spots built at a cost of crores of rupees to enhance the beauty of Vasai-Virar city have today become a victim of virtual neglect. These sculptures, which were once the identity of the city, have now been disfigured due to piles of garbage, overgrown grass, closed fountains and faulty lighting, and a question mark has been raised on the beauty of the city itself. Now, a proposal to spend another Rs. 3 crore for their maintenance and repair has been approved in the Municipal Corporation.
Under the city beautification initiative of the state government, 60 sculptures, fountains and beauty spots were built in major squares, roads and public places in Vasai-Virar and the Municipal Corporation with funds. However, due to lack of regular maintenance and care, grass and thorny bushes have grown in the vicinity of the sculptures in many places.
Banners of private individuals and political parties
Heaps of garbage have accumulated in the vicinity of some sculptures, and cleanliness has spread. In some places, banners of private individuals and political parties are being put up on sculptures erected with municipal funds. As a result, questions are being raised about the maintenance of these projects erected with public funds.
Beauty spots in darkness due to shutdown of lighting system
Fountains have been closed for several months due to lack of water. Flood lights and other lighting systems installed to enhance the beauty of the city at night have also been shut down in many places, leaving beauty spots in darkness. People’s representatives brought to the attention of the administration that due to neglect in the maintenance of sculptures, garbage has accumulated in many places, fountains have been shut down, and the lighting system has also become faulty. In the general assembly, Leader of the Opposition Manoj Patil questioned the expenditure on ‘flood lights’ and alleged that a large amount of money is being spent on maintenance even when the lights are off in many places. Standing Committee Chairman Praveen Shetty slammed the administration and said that people’s representatives should not have time to complain every time there is garbage accumulation at beauty spots, lights are off or fountains are not working properly. The administration is expected to conduct regular inspections on its own and make immediate repairs, he also said.
Displeasure over expenditure proposal in the General Assembly
Meanwhile, against this backdrop, the Municipal Corporation has decided to spend about three crore rupees for the maintenance and repair of sculptures, fountains and beauty spots for the three years from 2026-27 to 2028-29. However, the negligence in the previous maintenance should be investigated and action should be taken against those responsible. Strong displeasure was expressed in the General Assembly over the proposal to spend it again for the maintenance and repair of existing beauty spots instead of prioritizing the restoration of existing beauty spots before spending new funds.
Regular maintenance, fix responsibility
Since many beauty spots in the city look deserted and neglected today, citizens are asking why crores of rupees were spent. The sculptures erected with the aim of enhancing the beauty of the city are now disfigured due to neglect, and there are demands for their regular maintenance and responsibility.