The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to form joint committees comprising officials from the Smart City Corporation and the civic body to ensure the timely completion of pending works under the Smart City Mission. This decision follows the central government's announcement that the Smart City Mission will not be extended beyond December 2025.
Background and Government Directive
In response to the Centre's decision, the state urban development department issued a circular directing the relief of the chairperson, directors, chief executive officer, and staff of the Nashik Municipal Smart City Development Corporation Ltd. The circular also mandates the complete transfer of ongoing projects to the NMC. According to the Government Resolution (GR) issued by the state, five projects under the Smart City Corporation, with a combined cost exceeding Rs700 crore, remain incomplete and will now be executed by the civic body.
Major Pending Projects
Two of the most significant incomplete projects are linked to the upcoming Kumbh Mela. These include the integrated CCTV surveillance system and other smart components, estimated at Rs371 crore, and the City Network Backbone project, which involves laying optical fibre cable lines at a cost of around Rs128 crore. Both projects were originally allotted by the Nashik–Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority to the Smart City Corporation.
Other pending projects include:
- Augmentation of the water treatment plant capacity, costing Rs102 crore.
- A desilting project involving the installation of a mechanical gate in the Godavari river, at a cost of Rs9.61 crore.
- A SCADA project for metering water supply from sources, including major distribution lines and installation of water meters on commercial connections.
Formation of Joint Committees
Municipal commissioner Manisha Khatri announced that separate committees would be formed for each project to improve coordination and speed up execution. The objective is to ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities from the Smart City Corporation to the NMC and prevent delays during the final stages of implementation.
Staff Retention for Smooth Transition
Khatri further stated that Smart City Corporation staff will not be relieved immediately but will be retained for the next six months to help complete the projects. The staff is familiar with project details, and certain Smart City works are under litigation. While the Smart City Corporation's CEO will be relieved, the remaining staff will continue until all ongoing works are completed within the stipulated timelines.
