No playground at Hindustan Colony, residents demand access to NU ground

Nagpur: Residents of Hindustan Colony are raising concern over the absence of a designated playground in the locality, saying children and senior citizens are being deprived of a safe and accessible space for outdoor activities. Locals claim that although the residential layout was formally approved and developed, no land was reserved for a playground, leaving the colony without any recreational infrastructure.According to residents, the land surrounding Hindustan Colony belongs to Nagpur University (NU), which restricts free access and prevents children from using nearby open spaces. As a result, parents say children are either forced to play on internal roads, raising safety concerns, or remain confined indoors, affecting their physical and mental well-being.
"A playground is not a luxury, it is a basic civic necessity, especially in a residential area," said a resident, Swapanjit Sanyal. Locals added that the situation is particularly difficult during evenings and holidays, when children have no designated place to play.With repeated representations failing to yield results, residents have now renewed their demand, seeking either the development of a playground within the colony or formal permission to allow children to use the adjacent Nagpur University ground. They argue that limited, time-bound access to the NU ground would immediately address the problem until a permanent solution is implemented.A senior official of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) told TOI that residents can submit a formal representation to the civic body, following which efforts would be made to find a viable solution. The official added that with corporators now in place and a mayor elected, the procedural hurdles faced earlier can be addressed more efficiently. "The residents can approach the NMC with a proposal. Once it comes through the elected representatives, the process becomes more streamlined and actionable," the official said, indicating that civic authorities are open to resolving the issue through institutional channels.Residents, however, stressed that the responsibility to ensure basic amenities should not fall entirely on citizens. As the colony continues to grow, locals say the need for recreational spaces has become urgent, and a delay in action could further impact community well-being.