The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is bracing for a massive surge in expenditure for its upcoming civic elections, with a provisional budget of Rs 20 crore earmarked for the polls scheduled for January 15, 2026, and counting on January 16. This marks a staggering increase of nearly 165% compared to the approximately Rs 7.56 crore spent during the last civic elections in 2017.
Breaking Down the Cost Escalation
Municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari has given his nod to this provisional allocation. However, officials within the civic body openly acknowledge that the final bill is likely to overshoot this estimate, citing inflationary pressures and the need for expanded election infrastructure as key reasons.
A comparative analysis of the 2017 expenditure reveals where the costs are ballooning. Key heads from the previous polls included Rs 9.63 lakh on ward formation, Rs 14.31 lakh on voter list preparation, and Rs 11.40 lakh on printing press charges. Stationery alone cost Rs 52.69 lakh, while printing voter slips amounted to Rs 5.21 lakh.
A major driver of the increased budget is the cost of vehicles and fuel, which accounted for Rs 80.01 lakh in 2017. This component is set to rise dramatically. The price of diesel in Nagpur has nearly doubled, from around Rs 50.39 per litre in February 2017 to approximately Rs 90.58 per litre as of December 17, 2025. This surge will significantly impact transportation costs for polling personnel, election material, and electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Manpower, Surveillance, and Infrastructure Pressures
Expenditure on manpower and surveillance formed a substantial part of the previous election's budget. In 2017, the NMC spent Rs 2.14 crore on video cameras, LED screens, and CCTV cameras, Rs 2.08 crore on voting day employees, and Rs 1.06 crore on officers and staff for election duties. Counting staff expenses were Rs 4.39 lakh, EVM transportation Rs 6.33 lakh, and computer-related costs Rs 4.84 lakh.
For the 2026 elections, manpower costs are expected to climb further. A significant factor is the revision of honorarium for returning officers (ROs) and assistant returning officers (AROs), which will now be calculated according to the Seventh Pay Commission norms. Officials confirm this single revision will substantially push up election administration costs.
Beyond manpower and fuel, expenses for temporary infrastructure like pandals and decorations are also projected to rise sharply. A local decoration contractor associated with election work reported that input costs have increased by 40 to 50% since 2017. "A basic shamiyana arrangement that cost Rs 50,000 earlier now requires over Rs 80,000. Generator charges and electrical fittings have also become costlier due to high fuel prices," the contractor explained.
Baseline Budget with Upside Risks
Sources in the civic administration indicate that an increase in the number of polling booths will add to the expenditure. Other unavoidable costs include:
- Honorarium payments for all polling, counting, and supervisory staff.
- Hiring of vehicles for logistics.
- Printing of election documents and voter lists.
- EVM training and transportation.
- Erection and electrification of mandaps at polling and counting centres.
With nearly every cost head witnessing an upward revision, the Rs 20 crore provision is widely seen as a conservative baseline. Officials concede that the final expenditure could easily exceed this figure, making the 2026 Nagpur civic polls one of the most expensive in the city's history.
