Infrastructure that benefits citizens, makes lives slightly easier, is always welcome. But, when civic authorities undertake projects with little to no thought on long-term advantages of the same, the initiatives end up becoming a nuisance at best and a colossal waste of taxpayers’ money at worst. In most case, however, it is both.

In a story that may seem annoyingly familiar, the Western Railway designed a Rs 10 crore elevated platform for autorickshaws at Andheri, recently. But instead of serving the purpose it was built for, the deck is being used as a canoodling point. Meanwhile, authorities are contemplating setting up ATM booths and a food plaza on it.