Ending all speculations, Maharashtra Government on Monday notified appointment of Dr Abhijeet V Chaudhari as new Municipal Commissioner and Administrator at Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). Dr Chaudhari has also been entrusted additional charge as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL). He is likely to take the new charge on Tuesday. District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar was holding the additional charge at NMC. Dr Chaudhari will succeed Radhakrishnan B, who post-completion of his tenure has proceeded on 11-month study leave to USA. He is working as Joint Commissioner, Sales Tax, Mumbai.

In another development, incumbent CEO of NSSCDCL, Ajay Gulhane, has been posted as Commissioner, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), with its headquarter in city. He had joined the NSSCDCL in October 2022 and was entrusted additional charge as Additional Municipal Commissioner, and Director, VANAMATI.

 

Dr Chaudhari's name was already doing the rounds in the administrative circles for last one week. It was a matter of time before the order was issued. Hence, his posting to NMC may not have come as surprise to many. As per the orders issued by Nitin Gadre, Additional Chief Secretary (Services), General Administration Department (GAD), the post of Municipal Commissioner, NMC, has been downgraded to Junior Scale. Dr Chaudhari belongs to 2011 batch of Indian Administrative Service. He has earlier worked in Aurangabad Municipal Corporation and immediately thereafter posted to Sales Tax Department. He had little over one year tenure at Aurangabad. Prior to that Dr Chaudhari had a successful stint as Collector, Sangli district. During peak Covid-19 period his handling of health crisis was widely appreciated. Hailing from Jalgaon district, he is well known in administrative circles for his capabilities in handling challenging tasks. At Aurangabad, he tried to introduce systematic working in the administration and discipline the staff. A stricter for cleanliness and maintenance of order, in his one year tenure at AMC Dr Chaudhari left his imprint.