Nagpur: The restoration of the Futala musical fountain will involve laying nearly 74,000 metres (74km) of specialised cabling, with installation progressing in phases, officials said.The earlier estimate of around 4km covered only OFC. The revised scope now includes 4-core and 8-core industrial power cables, accounting for the expanded length, without any change in the sanctioned project cost of Rs10 crore. Additionally, 11,000 metres of encoder cables — used to transmit pump position and operational status to the master control room — will be installed.Officials of MahaMetro said 23,800 metres of 4-core cable have already been received, along with 23,000 metres of the required 36,500 metres of 8-core cable. The remaining 13,500 metres are expected to arrive in batches over the coming weeks. “Installation has begun, with trenching and ducting underway across the site,” officials said, adding that the cable network will be laid underground and underwater to integrate with the fountain’s electrical, signalling, and synchronisation systems.Parallel efforts are focused on the ‘banyan tree’ structure, planned as a 3D installation. Its base framework is under construction, while surveys are underway to finalise depth and structural specifications. Officials said the approach is aimed at systematic execution and avoiding further delays.Meanwhile, the visit of a French technical team — expected around April 15 to oversee installation and calibration — has been postponed. Officials cited reduced travel from Europe amid geopolitical tensions, including the West Asia conflict. A revised schedule is yet to be finalised.The Futala musical fountain, once envisioned as a major urban attraction, has remained non-functional for nearly two years due to technical faults and prolonged inactivity, leading to deterioration of key infrastructure. The current restoration focuses on rebuilding the electrical backbone and restoring synchronised light, sound and water operations.Officials said timelines for full restoration will become clearer after completion of cable installation and subsequent technical testing, with emphasis on long-term durability and performance.
