Nagpur's Major Environmental Project Faces Funding Hurdles Before Union Budget
As the nation awaits the Union Budget announcement, Nagpur's municipal commissioner, Abhijeet Chaudhari, has tempered expectations regarding significant new financial allocations for key city initiatives. In a candid discussion, he highlighted that central funding commitments for projects such as the ambitious Nag River Pollution Abatement Project are largely already established, leaving little room for additional spending in the current fiscal year.
Nag River Project: Funding Reality Check
The Nag River Pollution Abatement Project, with a staggering budget of Rs 1,927 crore, aims to intercept sewage and rejuvenate the 16-kilometer-long Nag river, a critical step for the city's environmental revival. This long-pending initiative involves constructing an extensive sewerage network and new sewage treatment plants under the supervision of the National River Conservation Directorate.
Commissioner Chaudhari revealed that while the project has received periodic allocations from the Centre as part of ongoing support, only approximately Rs 47 crore has been transferred to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) so far. "Whatever funds came were already credited and tied up with committed works. There is no unutilised windfall waiting to be spent," he stated, emphasizing that the funds are not lying idle.
Execution Delays: The Real Bottleneck
According to Chaudhari, the primary challenge is not the availability of funds but the sluggish pace of execution. Delays in finalizing tenders have significantly hindered expenditure. "Since tenders are yet to be finalised, large-scale spending is not happening. At best, we may be able to release mobilisation advances once tenders are cleared. Significant expenditure before the end of March is unlikely," he explained.
This slow progress means that despite the project's importance, substantial financial outflows before the fiscal year concludes are improbable, putting pressure on timelines and environmental goals.
Urban Transport Proposals Also in Limbo
In addition to the Nag River project, expectations for innovative urban transport proposals from Nagpur to feature in the Union Budget are likely to be dashed. Chaudhari noted that initiatives like the flash-charging electric bus project are still awaiting final approvals and are unlikely to be highlighted in the budget announcement.
The flash-charging e-bus initiative, promoted by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, is touted as the country's first pilot project. It envisions articulated electric buses operating on the Inner Ring Road with rapid "flash" charging technology and enhanced last-mile connectivity, representing a broader push for sustainable urban mobility.
Progress on Electric Bus Project
Separately, civic officials have made headway with the electric mobility scheme, finalizing Tata Motors as the lowest bidder for a Rs 152 crore articulated electric bus project. This initiative, backed by Central funds, includes:
- Procurement of state-of-the-art electric buses
- Creation of supporting infrastructure
- Establishment of 8 flash-charging stations at key locations along the Inner Ring Road
Despite this progress, the overall sentiment remains cautious, with Chaudhari's remarks underscoring a broader theme of constrained fiscal flexibility and operational delays impacting Nagpur's urban development agenda as the budget approaches.
