NMC preparing revised DPR for concrete roads project


* Chief Minister asks NMC to revise estimates to Rs 300 crore
* Calls experts for meeting on Monday
By Kartik Lokhande 
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is pushing the project of constructing cement-concrete roads in the city, in a big way. After a meeting with Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, last month, it is now preparing a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Last month, NMC had made a presentation before Chief Minister on cement-concrete roads project. As per the NMC presentation, the estimated cost of the project was Rs 460 crore. However, Chief Minister suggested some changes and asked NMC to submit a revised proposal within the limit of Rs 300 crore for the project.
“Chief Minister shared with us his ideas about cement-concrete roads project. He attracted our attention to new cost-effective technologies. Accordingly, we are preparing a revised DPR,” said Shyam Wardhane, Municipal Commissioner. He told ‘The Hitavada’ that the project involves construction of 70-km long cement-concrete roads. Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur has developed a technology for economical-yet-durable construction of cement-concrete roads.
To know more about the technologies available and discuss finer aspects relating to the project, NMC has called a meeting of experts on Monday. For the meeting, two eminent experts namely Deodutta Marathe, who retired from Public Works Department; and Pundlik Darade, Harbour Engineer at Mumbai, have been invited.
For the project, NMC and State Government will share the burden on matching grant basis. NMC, State Government, and Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) will contribute Rs 100 crore each for the project. The special fund of Rs 100 crore promised by the State to NMC will be utilised for the project. The project was discussed in a meeting with Chief Minister held at Vidhan Bhavan during winter session of State Legislature.
Asked about Nag river rejuvenation project, Wardhane said that NMC was preparing a new DPR.

NMC’s financial
burden increases Losing funds under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) has cost NMC dearly as its financial burden has increased tremendously. Already, it revenue has been affected since implementation of Local Body Tax (LBT).
Earlier in the year 2014, Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) of Union Ministry of Urban Development had warned NMC that no funds would be released for projects not completed before March 31, 2014. Owing to delay in completion of various projects under JNNURM, release of JNNURM funds to NMC was blocked. This has increased financial burden on NMC by Rs 256 crore. Most of the projects for which the funds were required, are in final stages of execution with 95-97 per cent of work done. Apart from this, the funds under JNNURM-II have been kept in ‘abeyance’.
Against the backdrop of already troubled financial position due to implementation of LBT, this burden has put NMC administration in worry. Steps are being taken to bring in financial discipline. 

(Published in The Hitavada CityLine on January 3, 2015)

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