Nagpur: The standing committee of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), chaired by Shivani Dani Wakhare, on Tuesday approved a proposal to overhaul a stormwater drainage network in Dharampeth zone’s Prabhag 14 — a move that has again put the spotlight on the civic body’s priorities.The project, involving cleaning and reconstructing an existing IRDP stormwater drain, covers areas near VCA Stadium and Indrayani Apartments in Civil Lines, where only one apartment is located. While the administrative approval for the work was pegged at Rs40.92 lakh, the tender was floated at Rs33.87 lakh. Four bidders participated, all of whom were found eligible.The contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, who quoted 30.99% below the tender cost at Rs23.38 lakh. The final approved cost of the project stands at Rs28.55 lakh.The proposal received technical sanction on Nov 10, 2025, followed by administrative approval on Dec 10, 2025. However, what should have been a routine infrastructure upgrade has now triggered a broader debate on governance and responsiveness.Speaking to the media, chairperson Wakhare revealed that BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh, who resides in the same locality, flagged the issue to the civic body, citing rainwater entering his residence due to a collapsed and choked drainage line. The complaint appears to have accelerated the approval process.The development has reignited concerns over whether the NMC acts swiftly only when problems affect VIPs or elected representatives, while large parts of the city continue to battle chronic waterlogging.Every monsoon, several localities across Nagpur are submerged due to clogged and damaged stormwater drains. Roads turn into streams, homes are flooded, and residents are left dealing with the fallout of recurring civic inaction.
