Nagpur: The Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA), for the first time, will have a dedicated workforce, with state govt approving 160 technical and non-technical posts for the authority. The move comes amid a push to strengthen NMRDA as the key agency for planning and executing development projects across the metropolitan region.Sources said the strengthening of NMRDA could also be linked to a broader plan for the future of the two agencies. Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) could eventually be dissolved, they said, and officials and employees willing to continue in the new set-up could be sent to NMRDA on deputation.With several infrastructure, planning and development works with a combined estimated value of more than 26,000 crore also under its ambit, officials said a dedicated workforce has become essential for ensuring timely execution.A govt resolution issued on Wednesday approved the 160-post staffing structure, replacing earlier sanctioned structures. Metropolitan Commissioner will have the final authority over appointments, internal transfers and allocation of duties.NMRDA currently has only around eight to nine officials working directly with the authority, while a large part of its workforce comprises officials and employees from NIT.The shortage of dedicated manpower has affected the pace of several NMRDA works, including Gunthewari-related work, development projects, road concretisation, and other assignments.A large NMRDA Bhavan is also planned on Wardha Road, reflecting govt’s long-term plans for developing the authority as a full-fledged metropolitan planning and development agency.The authority was established in March 2017 under the Maharashtra Metropolitan Region Development Authority Act, 2016. Despite its expanding role, it has continued to depend heavily on staff from NIT.
