Nagpur Mayor Launches Midnight Cleanup Drive for Filthy Itwari Market
In her first major cleanliness review after assuming office, Nagpur Mayor Neeta Thakre has unveiled a tough, time-bound night sanitation plan for the chronically filthy Itwari market area. Thakre declared that "cosmetic morning sweeping will no longer suffice", signaling a decisive shift in the city's approach to waste management.
Flawed System of Morning Sweeping
For years, sanitation in Itwari followed a flawed cycle where Nagpur Municipal Corporation workers swept roads at dawn, shops opened later, and fresh rubbish was dumped on the streets within hours. By afternoon, heaps of waste choked narrow lanes, creating unsanitary conditions throughout peak business hours. Late-night eateries further aggravated the mess, leaving food waste and litter strewn across key junctions despite daily cleaning claims.
Structurally Ineffective Approach
Calling the existing system "structurally ineffective", Thakre announced a dedicated midnight-to-4am cleaning and rubbish collection drive under the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's solid waste management department. "If waste is generated at night, it must be cleared at night," she asserted, outlining her vision of synchronizing waste collection with market activity rather than administrative convenience.
One-Month Trial and Trader Cooperation
The drive will be rolled out on a one-month trial basis, after which performance will be thoroughly reviewed. Shopkeepers will be formally notified of revised rubbish handover timings, with strict instructions issued against dumping waste on roads. Food market pockets will receive focused late-night cleaning to prevent overnight accumulation.
During the meeting, traders demanded Sitabuldi-style facilities including:
- Structured night cleaning
- Removal of encroachments
- Improved parking management
- Public toilets
Thakre responded positively but stressed that civic accountability must be matched by trader responsibility. "Cleanliness cannot be one-sided. Cooperation is non-negotiable," she emphasized.
Political and Administrative Support
Deputy Mayor Leela Hattibed and ruling party leader Narendra (Balya) Borkar backed the move, assuring that rubbish collection vehicles will be deployed between 12am and 4am daily. A demand for Sunday cleaning was also raised, with the mayor promising due consideration.
Senior officials including Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Bhagat and Chief Sanitation Officer Dr. Gajendra Mahalle were directed to ensure seamless execution of the night sanitation plan.
Areas Covered Under Night Shift Campaign
The comprehensive cleaning and rubbish collection will be carried out in multiple locations including:
- Marwadi Chowki
- Ek Rupaya Chowk
- Bharat Mata Chowk
- Gandhi Putla
- Agrasen Chowk
- Dahi Bazaar
- Maskasath
- Teen Nal Chowk
- Nanga Putla
- Anaj Bazaar
- Kapda Oli
- Bartan Oli
- Adjoining residential areas in Itwari
Shift to Outcome-Oriented Governance
With Itwari being one of Nagpur's busiest wholesale hubs, the mayor's midnight sanitation blueprint signals a significant shift from routine sweeping to outcome-oriented governance. This represents a clear message that both civic staff and traders can no longer ignore their responsibilities in maintaining urban cleanliness standards.
