NMC Plans Offer Up to 15% Rebate as 44% Property Owners Avail Tax Sops Nagpur: Encouraged by the strong response from taxpayers, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has proposed reintroducing rebates of up to 15% on property tax payments. Officials highlighted that nearly 44% of the city’s total property holders availed the incentive scheme in the previous financial year. According to data from the tax department, out of the 8,28,497 registered properties in the city, 3,65,196 property owners paid their dues between April 1 and December 31, 2025, by taking advantage of rebate benefits. This participation rate of approximately 44.1% underscores the effectiveness of the incentive-based collection strategy in improving compliance and boosting revenues. Of the total, 1,47,560 property owners opted for online payment mode, contributing Rs61.54 crore. These taxpayers availed rebates ranging between 10% and 15%, with the NMC offering a total concession of Rs1.63 crore. In contrast, a larger number—2,17,636 property owners—chose offline payment modes, collectively paying Rs49.48 crore. They availed rebates of 5% and 10%, resulting in a higher rebate outgo of Rs3.14 crore for the civic body. Despite the higher number of offline transactions, officials noted that online payments generated greater revenue, reinforcing the NMC’s push toward digital tax collection systems. Building on this trend, the tax department has proposed a revised rebate structure for the upcoming financial cycle and submitted it to municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar for approval. Once cleared, the proposal will be routed through the standing committee before being placed before the general body.#tax_department #nagpur_municipal_corporation #nmc #vipin_itankar #property_owners
Ankit Assumes Charge as NMC Additional Commissioner Nagpur: Ankit, a 2019-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Maharashtra cadre, officially assumed his role as additional commissioner of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Monday. The ceremony marked his formal entry into the position, with NMC commissioner Vipin Itankar welcoming him by presenting a bouquet. Deputy commissioners Nirbhay Jain and Rajesh Bhagat were also present at the event. Following the inauguration, Ankit conducted a courtesy visit to mayor Neeta Thakre, during which deputy mayor Leela Hathibed and standing committee chairperson Shivani Daani Wakhare greeted him with bouquets. Ankit’s appointment comes after a series of administrative transitions within the municipal corporation. His background includes a BTech degree in mechanical engineering from IIT Delhi, which he earned before entering the Indian Administrative Service. Prior to his current role, he served as chief executive officer of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Zilla Parishad, a position that required managing a large administrative division and overseeing local governance initiatives. His transition to the NMC reflects a shift toward urban management, where he will now focus on addressing the challenges of Nagpur’s municipal infrastructure, public services, and civic amenities. The ceremony highlighted the formal process of administrative handover, with senior officials present to acknowledge his new responsibilities. Itankar’s gesture of presenting a bouquet symbolized the recognition of Ankit’s appointment and the beginning of his tenure. The presence of deputy commissioners Jain and Bhagat underscored the collaborative nature of the municipal administration, as they would likely play key roles in supporting his initiatives.#nmc #vipin_itankar #nirbhay_jain #ankit #rajesh_bhagat
Expert Urges Overhaul of Tender Norms to Address Concerns Over Low-Ball Bids Nagpur: A growing trend of contractors submitting bids 30–40% below official estimates has sparked alarm over the quality and durability of infrastructure projects undertaken by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). A city-based expert has criticized these "unthinkably low" bids as a deviation from established engineering and financial standards, warning that such pricing undermines the integrity of the tendering process. In a formal representation to the standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare and municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar, engineer and legal expert Ashok Karandikar highlighted the risks associated with these bids. Karandikar, a founder member of Janakrosh, an NGO focused on traffic awareness, explained that official estimates are prepared through a rigorous process that incorporates standard schedules of rates (SSR), specifications, labor costs, taxes, and contractor margins, typically ranging from 10–15%. Under normal circumstances, bids fall within a narrow band of ±5% of these estimates. However, bids 30–40% below the official figures indicate a fundamental flaw in the process. Karandikar emphasized that tendering follows established norms, including guidelines from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and standard procedures designed to ensure transparency and quality. He argued that such steep underbidding is a red flag, suggesting either the estimate is flawed or the execution will suffer—both scenarios being incompatible. He warned that awarding contracts at these rates could lead to the use of substandard materials, compromised workmanship, or incomplete projects, ultimately escalating maintenance costs and straining the civic body’s finances.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #vipin_itankar #shivani_dani_wakhare #ashok_karandikar #janakrosh
Probe Low Bidding for NMC Tenders, Demands Congress Nagpur: The controversy surrounding unusually low bids for civic projects has escalated as Opposition leader Sanjay Mahakalkar called for an immediate investigation into road works approved by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) standing committee. In a letter to municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar, Mahakalkar highlighted two road projects cleared during a March 24 meeting where contractors submitted rates nearly 40% below the estimated costs. One proposal under the Lakadganj zone was approved at 40.80% below the estimated cost, while another cement road project in the Dharampeth zone was cleared at 39.75% lower than the base price. Mahakalkar described the approvals as "highly questionable," warning that such drastic cost reductions raise serious concerns about the quality and durability of the work. He urged the NMC to form a committee to scrutinize all tenders approved at more than 30% below the estimated cost across departments. The leader also cautioned that approving abnormally low bids without rigorous oversight could result in substandard infrastructure and financial losses for the civic body. The issue has gained prominence due to reports highlighting the deterioration of recently constructed cement roads in the city. These roads have shown signs of wear within a short period, sparking concerns about inadequate quality control and weak tender scrutiny within the municipal administration. Mahakalkar’s letter underscores the growing public and political pressure to address potential corruption and mismanagement in civic projects. The NMC’s standing committee, which approved the controversial bids, faces scrutiny over its decision-making process.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #vipin_itankar #sanjay_mahakalkar #dharampeth_zone #lakadganj_zone
BJP backtracks on prabhag rejig after opposition uproar The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Nagpur has abandoned its plan to restructure prabhags in the city, reversing course after facing strong opposition from civic corporators. The initial proposal, approved during a March 20 general body meeting by mayor Neeta Thakre, aimed to alter the existing prabhag arrangement to strengthen the BJP’s control over zonal offices. However, the move sparked immediate backlash from Congress and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) corporators, who submitted a formal memorandum to mayor Thakre and municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar demanding the decision be revoked. BJP leader Narendra “Balya” Borkar confirmed the rollback, stating the prabhag and zonal structure would remain unchanged. He emphasized that zonal leadership would now be determined based on the current political strength in each zone. According to the present political landscape, the Congress is expected to secure chairmanship in the Mangalwari zone, while the IUML, with support from its alliance partner All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), is likely to claim the Ashi Nagar zone. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) corporator’s backing could further influence the balance in these areas. Opposition leader Sanjay Mahakalkar had previously accused the BJP of attempting to manipulate the prabhag structure to dominate all zones except Ashi Nagar. With the BJP’s retreat, the immediate crisis has eased, but tensions within the civic body remain high ahead of upcoming zonal chairperson elections. Mahakalkar noted that he has not received official communication from the civic administration but confirmed the development as credible.#nagpur #congress #bharatiya_janata_party #vipin_itankar #neeta_thakre
Prabhag Rejig Gives BJP Control in 9 of 10 NMC Zones, Opposition Objects Nagpur: The ruling BJP’s reshuffle of prabhags in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has sparked controversy, with the opposition alleging the move is designed to consolidate BJP dominance in most zonal offices. Leader of opposition Sanjay Mahakalkar submitted a memorandum to NMC mayor Neeta Thakre and commissioner Vipin Itankar, accusing the ruling party of manipulating zonal allocations to secure an advantage ahead of upcoming zonal chairperson elections. The reshuffle, approved during the March 20 NMC general body meeting, has already drawn political backlash, with Mahakalkar claiming the decision was made without full administrative details being shared with corporators. The rejig involves shifting prabhags across four zones, with prabhag 12 moving from Dharampeth to Mangalwari, prabhag 9 from Mangalwari to Ashi Nagar, and prabhag 6 from Ashi Nagar to Satranjipura. This reallocation is expected to reduce the number of prabhags in Dharampeth while increasing them in Satranjipura, altering the political balance in Mangalwari and Ashi Nagar. Mahakalkar argued that the BJP, already holding a majority in the civic body, does not need to adjust prabhag allocations and that the changes are aimed at weakening the Congress in Mangalwari and strengthening BJP’s position in key zones. Corporator Aslam Khan from prabhag 6 raised objections, specifically targeting the transfer of his ward from Ashi Nagar to Satranjipura. He contended that the area is geographically and demographically better suited to Ashi Nagar, and the move would inconvenience residents by forcing longer travel distances for administrative tasks.#bjp #nagpur_municipal_corporation #vipin_itankar #sanjay_mahakalkar #neeta_thakre
Execution of Tasks a Priority as Census Phase 1 Training Begins Nagpur: The preparation for the Census of India 2027 entered its first phase on Monday, with over 250 officials gathering in Nagpur for a three-day training program at the Zilla Niyojan Bhavan. The event marks the official start of efforts to prepare for the houselisting phase of the census, a critical step in gathering demographic data across the country. Collector Vipin Itankar addressed the inaugural session, highlighting the significance of the census in shaping public welfare policies. He stressed the need for officials to prioritize their assigned tasks, emphasizing that the data collected will be vital for implementing welfare schemes. The training, targeting field trainers and charge officers, focuses on equipping participants with knowledge of field procedures, digital data collection systems, and operational protocols. This includes familiarizing them with platforms such as the CMMS and HLBC portals. Master trainers, who had recently completed state-level training in Pune, are leading the sessions. Participants include district and city census officers, additional charge officers, clerical staff, and technical assistants. Administratively, the rural segment has been divided into 43 units across 13 tehsils, 29 nagar panchayats, and one Nagpur Cantonment area. Each unit will operate under a charge officer responsible for planning and oversight. Within the NMC jurisdiction, the exercise is structured into 10 units aligned with zonal divisions. The training follows a cascade model, where trained officials will subsequently train supervisors and enumerators at the local level. The district is expected to deploy over 4,500 enumerators in rural areas and approximately 6,000 personnel for urban coverage.#nagpur #vipin_itankar #zilla_niyojan_bhavan #cmms #hlbc
Existing Land Use Survey Drags, Nagpur DP In Doldrums Nagpur’s long-overdue development plan (DP) faces further delays as the Existing Land Use (ELU) survey remains incomplete in more than half of the areas included in the expanded municipal limits. Of the 57 mauzas incorporated into the planning framework, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s town planning department has completed ELUs for only 25, leaving 32 areas pending even after the initial deadline passed. Civic officials attributed the slowdown to challenges in reconciling land-use data from the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT), which previously drafted the city’s development plan. The revised DP, mandated under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, carries strict statutory timelines. Sections 23(1), 34, and 38 of the Act require the plan to be finalized within six months of its notification, setting December 13, 2025, as the deadline for publishing the final growth blueprint. However, doubts persist about the municipal corporation’s ability to meet this target, given its historical struggles with implementation. The last development plan, created by NIT in 2000, outlined 896 reservations for civic amenities like parks, schools, and roads, but over two decades later, only 92 reservations have been executed, with 804 still pending. Municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar, who recently took charge, reviewed the stalled progress during a meeting and directed the town planning department to complete the ELU survey for the remaining 32 mauzas by May 31, 2025. Originally scheduled for completion by December 13, 2024, the target was missed due to administrative and technical bottlenecks.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #nagpur_improvement_trust #vipin_itankar #maha_metro #maharashtra_airport_development_company
NMC faces 50% staff crunch, commissioner seeks urgent recruitment The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is grappling with a severe staffing shortage, with nearly 48% of its sanctioned posts remaining vacant. Officials revealed during a departmental review meeting that out of 17,981 sanctioned positions, only 9,322 employees are currently in place, leaving 8,659 posts unfilled. The crisis has significantly impacted civic administration, prompting municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar to take decisive action. Itankar directed officials to expedite the recruitment process for vacant roles and prepare proposals for pending appointments. He also emphasized the need to pursue the state government for officers on deputation, as the civic body requires around 19 officers from the state cadre. The review meeting, held at the commissioner’s chamber in the NMC headquarters, involved senior officials including deputy commissioners Nirbhay Jain and Milind Meshram, chief engineer Manoj Talewar, and other department heads. Jain highlighted the complexity of the staffing issue, noting that the NMC operates under a revised structure with 205 cadres across Class 1 to Class 4 categories. Itankar instructed officials to finalize proposals for pending appointments and maintain regular follow-up with the state government to address the shortage. The meeting underscored the urgency of resolving the staffing crisis to ensure the smooth functioning of municipal services. The vacant posts have created operational challenges, affecting areas such as public health, sanitation, and infrastructure management. With the municipal corporation struggling to meet its responsibilities, the commissioner’s directive to prioritize recruitment and deputation efforts aims to stabilize the administration.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #vipin_itankar #nirbhay_jain #milind_meshram #manoj_talewar
