City deluged in ’23, river walls collapsing, funds released now Nagpur: After years of delays, the Maharashtra government finally released Rs70.76 crore on March 31, 2026, to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for post-Sept 2023 flood restoration works. The funds, part of a pending Rs72 crore allocation from the state, were intended to address critical infrastructure damage along the Nag River and its tributaries. However, civic officials admitted the money would primarily be used to clear outstanding contractor bills, raising concerns about the prioritization of urgent repairs. The NMC initially sought Rs204.71 crore for restoration efforts after the 2023 floods devastated large sections of roads, drainage systems, and retaining walls along the Nag, Pili, and Pora rivers. The state later revised the project cost to around Rs158 crore, with Rs86.5 crore already released earlier in the financial year. The latest allocation of Rs70.76 crore was critical to prevent a payment crisis for the municipal body as the financial year drew to a close. Despite the funding, the city remains vulnerable to another major flood. Recent months have seen several retaining walls along the Nag River collapse, exposing residential areas, schools, and commercial zones to potential disaster. Notable incidents include the caving of protective walls near Yeshwant Stadium in Sangam Chawl and damage reported near Panchsheel Square. Residents along the riverbanks have repeatedly complained about the lack of immediate repairs, with erosion continuing in some areas due to delayed action. Civic officials acknowledged that work on the most vulnerable stretches of the river will likely commence in the coming weeks.#maharashtra_government #nagpur_municipal_corporation #nag_river #panchsheel_square #yeshwant_stadium
