Citizens looking forward to a completely transformed Gandhisagar Lake will have to stretch their patience by another twelve months. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has confirmed that the highly-anticipated Phase-2 rejuvenation and beautification project is facing delays and after a lot of discussions, authorities are likely to start floating the tender of approximately Rs 12 crore for the completion of Phase-2. NMC officials have confirmed its new completion deadline of June 2027. The ambitious revival project, which initially aimed for an earlier rollout, has met structural and logistical challenges on-site. According to senior civic officials, crucial engineering work, including the reinforcement of old retaining walls, desilting complexities, and extensive stone-pitching along the massive water body’s perimeter, requires meticulous execution to ensure long-term sustainability, altering the original execution timeline. An official of the NMC, Dhantoli Zone, clarified the revised development roadmap and outlined what remained on the agenda.

 

“The Phase-2 rejuvenation of Gandhisagar Lake is a comprehensive undertaking. While parts of the preliminary clearing are progressing, substantial civil works are still pending. Realistically, it will take one more year to complete all components of this phase. We are officially targeting June 2027 when the fully completed project will be dedicated to the public.” “In a recent meeting held on Tuesday with the Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar, the civic body has decided to float the tender of around Rs 8 crore for the phase-2 work after June 25,” official added. The upcoming phase focuses on building a viewing gallery, along with the beautification of the Natik Chowk and Khau Galli. This will turn the lakeside into a premier evening hub.

 

Once the phase 2 is complete, the NMC will further move towards the phase-3, which involves the development of the park, construction of landscaped walking tracks, energy-efficient decorative lighting, building a multi-purpose hall, parking plaza and art gallery. According to the official, the tentative cost of phase-3 would be around Rs 35-40 crore, which would be confirmed once the DPR is finalised. Funding of the phase-3 is uncertain right now, as usually, the State Government contributes 75 per cent of the total cost. Authorities are, at present, clueless whether the Government will continue funding the project.