NMC Transport Department Faces Scrutiny Over Enhanced Chalo Payments, Audit Proposed The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Transport Department has come under scrutiny for allegedly increasing payments to Chalo Mobility Private Limited (CMPL) under its five-year Aapli Bus contract without obtaining mandatory approval from the competent authority. Official documents reveal that NMC issued a work order to the Mumbai-based company on March 11, 2024, and finalized the agreement on July 11, 2024, appointing it as the Integrated Bus Transport Management (IBTM) operator. The 60-month contract, valued at Rs216.30 crore, includes Rs113.40 crore for service charges related to conductors and Rs102.90 crore for consultancy. Sources allege that the Transport Department revised the service charges without administrative sanction, raising the monthly payout from approximately Rs1.88 crore to nearly Rs3.26 crore. The consultancy component is structured as 60% fixed charges and 40% performance-linked payments, with the variable portion contingent on evaluating three metrics: Earnings Per Kilometre (EPKM) (15%), passenger count (15%), and digital ridership (10%). However, officials claim the higher expenditure was necessitated by operational demands. Since the agreement took effect, the Aapli Bus fleet expanded from around 500 buses to nearly 730, significantly increasing the number of conductors deployed. A revision in conductor wages also contributed to the rise in service costs. While the civic administration asserts that operational changes may justify adjustments to the project cost, it emphasizes that any increase in the approved contract value requires prior approval from the competent authority.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #municipal_commissioner_vipin_itankar #nmc_transport_department #aapli_bus #chalo_mobility_private_limited
Sant Gulab Baba Urdu School Building to Be Demolished, New Facility Planned Nagpur: The aging structure of Sant Gulab Baba Urdu School in Mominpura is set to be demolished, with plans underway to construct a new facility. Municipal Commissioner Vipin Itankar has directed officials to submit a proposal to ensure the school can resume operations for the upcoming academic year. During a routine inspection of civic projects in Mominpura and Minimata Nagar, Itankar visited the school and emphasized the urgency of accelerating reconstruction efforts. Local corporator Wasim Khan raised the issue of rebuilding the school, highlighting the need for a modern infrastructure to support educational needs. The commissioner also reviewed progress on the under-construction Muslim e-library in Mominpura, which is being developed on a 4,098.41 square meter plot at a cost of Rs20 crore using funds from the District Planning Committee. During the inspection, Itankar examined the multipurpose hall and reading room, instructing officials to install an iron ramp for parking and complete remaining works promptly. In Minimata Nagar, the upcoming 30-bed Urban Community Health Centre received attention. Itankar directed officials to widen the side entrance, allocate parking space, and lay paver blocks in designated areas. He also proposed transforming the open space in front of the hospital into a walking track, garden, and play area for residents. The facility will be equipped with air conditioning, a modular operation theatre, an effluent treatment plant, quality furniture, and rooftop solar panels through MEDA.#municipal_commissioner_vipin_itankar #mominpura #sant_gulab_baba_urdu_school #muslim_e_library #minimata_nagar
Encroachments choke 49 roads, staff shortage hits NMC action, drives planned in night with police support The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has identified 49 critical road segments where encroachments persist, blocking traffic and reducing pedestrian space despite ongoing eviction efforts. The anti-encroachment team, operating with only 150 personnel, faces challenges in maintaining round-the-clock surveillance. A high-level meeting at the police headquarters, attended by Commissioner of Police Ravinder Kumar Singal and Municipal Commissioner Vipin Itankar, reviewed the situation under the “Mission 100 Day” initiative. Singal emphasized stricter enforcement, directing officials to escalate night-time operations with full police collaboration. The 48 affected locations include prominent areas such as Jhansi Rani Square, Sitabuldi market lanes, Variety Square, Futala Lake frontage, Hingna T-point to Chhatrapati Square, Indora Square to Jaripatka Square, and VNIT to Bajaj Nagar. Officials noted that illegal vendors, temporary structures, and unauthorized setups often reoccupy cleared spaces within hours, highlighting the lack of sustained enforcement. A civic survey revealed the issue is systemic, spanning eight major problems: encroachments on roads and footpaths, illegal constructions, waste dumping, unauthorized sewer and water connections, and illegal hoardings. Coordination challenges further complicate enforcement due to fragmented road ownership. Stretches fall under multiple agencies, including the Public Works Department (PWD), National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Nagpur Improvement Trust, and the NMC, leading to gaps in collaboration.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #public_works_department #municipal_commissioner_vipin_itankar #commissioner_of_police_ravinder_kumar_singal #national_highway_authority_of_india
Nagpur’s 80% Stormwater Chambers Still Clogged Even As April 30 Deadline Nears Nagpur’s pre-monsoon preparedness efforts have faced significant setbacks as nearly 80% of the city’s stormwater drain chambers remain blocked, raising alarms about potential flooding during the monsoon season. Official data as of March 25 shows that only 7,629 out of the total 48,268 stormwater chambers have been desilted, representing just 20% of the work completed. With municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar setting an April 30 deadline, zonal teams now face a daunting challenge to clear the remaining chambers within the remaining time. Stormwater chambers are essential for managing rainwater runoff, as they channel water into the drainage network. When these chambers are clogged with silt, plastic, and debris, they fail to function properly, leading to water accumulation on roads and eventual overflow into residential areas. Civic experts warn that the delayed desilting has significantly increased the risk of urban flooding, particularly during heavy rainfall events. The situation is further complicated by the city’s rapid transition from tar roads to cement concrete (CC) surfaces. While CC roads offer greater durability, they reduce natural water infiltration into the ground, exacerbating runoff and overwhelming the existing drainage infrastructure. Zonal performance data highlights stark disparities in progress. The Ashi Nagar zone has made the least progress, clearing only 180 out of 3,875 chambers. Dhantoli zone is also lagging, with just 190 of its 2,722 chambers cleared. Gandhibagh zone, which has the highest number of chambers at 14,731, has managed to clear only 3,145, leaving a massive backlog. Lakadganj zone has performed relatively better, completing around one-third of its target.#nagpur #municipal_commissioner_vipin_itankar #gandhibagh #ashi_nagar #dhantoli
Mayor Sets April 30 Deadline for Nullah, Drain Desilting Drive Nagpur: Mayor Neeta Thakre directed officials on Wednesday to accelerate the river and drain desilting drive, emphasizing the need to complete all works by April 30. She urged departments to deploy additional manpower and machinery to meet the deadline. During an inspection, Thakre reviewed efforts to clear silt, garbage, and obstructions from drains, river stretches, and ghats to ensure unimpeded water flow. She stressed the importance of removing blockages to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon season. The mayor spent over seven hours touring various parts of the city to assess the situation firsthand. At Trimurti Nagar, she ordered the removal of encroachments by a mutton market along a drain. Thakre also instructed the solid waste management department and assistant commissioners to intensify public awareness campaigns against dumping garbage into drains and rivers. The mayor, accompanied by municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar and senior officials, conducted an extensive joint inspection across multiple zones, including Laxmi Nagar, Dharampeth, Mangalwari, Ashi Nagar, Lakadganj, Nehru Nagar, Gandhi Bagh, and Hanuman Nagar. The inspection team included deputy mayor Leela Hathibed, standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare, ruling party leader Narendra Borkar, health committee chairperson Manisha Atkare, additional commissioner Vasumana Pant, chief engineer Manoj Talewar, and other officials. Thakre expressed concern over the spread of water hyacinth in river stretches near Ambazari crematorium and Vivekanand Memorial, instructing officials to take immediate remedial measures. At Gorewada lake, she ordered steps to stop sewage inflow near the Chhath Puja site.#nagpur #mayor_neeta_thakre #municipal_commissioner_vipin_itankar #trimurti_nagar #gorewada_lake
