Despite long gap in holding NMC polls, Town Hall redevelopment still incomplete

 

 

Although the swanky new Raje Raghuji Town Hall will be a major highlight in the skyline of Mahal, the prolong delay on part of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) in taking-up reconstruction project has forced newly elected corporators to miss its maiden meeting in the historic building. Administrative delay mostly relating to clearances from Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) resulted in delayed start to reconstruction of the Town Hall. So even though the elected body was not in place for nearly three and half years, Town Hall reconstruction could not take place due to procedural delays.

 

The work started only last year and though much of construction is complete, but for the newly elected city fathers it is still the Bhat auditorium that is their refuge to hold their maiden meeting owing to incomplete facility. Even prior to that due to Covid-19 the general body meetings were held Suresh Bhat auditorium. So that time alone, the short coming of Town Hall had came to notice and new swanky building plan was approved by the administration. Yet given the famed bureaucratic tangle, the late approvals and later insufficient funding, put paid to any early hope of new Town Hall in place for the new body to hold their meeting. Town Hall to be Mahal's Center Piece: Meanwhile, skyline of Mahal is witnessing a historic shift as the heritage Town Hall redevelopment project enters the last stage as RCC part is nearing completion.

 

The project will soon turn the Shrimant Raje Raghuji Bhonsle Town Hall and the adjoining complex into a primary functional hub for civic body. In a significant relief for residents of East and South Nagpur, the new Town Hall is set to become the permanent seat for r NMC Departments. Ritesh Hemke, Site Supervisor, confirmed that the Commissioner’s office, auditorium and various VIP rooms are currently under construction. “Residents of East and South Nagpur will no longer have to run to Civil Lines head office for official NMC work; the administration is coming to the heart of the city," Hemke stated.

 

“This will be the heritage of the city, he added. The project received the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) green light only in July 2024, spans a massive 6,808 sq m. The four-story structure includes: A 155-seat state-of-the-art auditorium and it also encompasses another hall to accommodate 288-member for meetings. Along with dedicated administrative wings and luxury VIP lounges. Most importantly the ground floor, including two floors of basement, are exclusively going to be dedicated for parking of vehicles. So atleast in near future, the challenge of parking, it used to face during the general body meetings, might become history. But the question remained, why the Town Hall redevelopment project got delayed? A period of four to five years was wasted and had the same been used to issue the orders sooner in 2022, the project would have been complete by now. So for the new city fathers, the Mayor selection meeting could have been held at Town Hall instead of Suresh Bhat Auditorium”. Currently, RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) work of the new building is almost complete. The focus has now shifted to interior aesthetics, with air conditioning, acoustic panelling and false ceiling installations in full swing. Externally, electrical wiring, gardening and outer premises development are progressing simultaneously. While the project has been under construction for over a year, officials cited a rigorous quality control process for the timeline. A Mock Room’ has been established on-site, where every material from tiles and furniture to paint shades must be presented by vendors and approved by NMC engineers before installation. We take approval for every small detail to ensure heritage compliance and quality,” said Hemke.

 

Daily meetings are held on-site where NMC engineers and senior officials monitor the status. The contractor, Praful Deshmukh, has deployed a robust workforce, with daily manpower ranging from 90 to 150 workers. Labourers work from 9 am to 6 pm, while the technical team operates until 6.30 pm. Despite the high momentum, factors such as heavy monsoon rains in late 2024 and labor shortages during major festivals have caused minor delays. The site supervisor estimates that the facility will be fully functional in 6 to 8 months, ensuring every guideline provided by the civic body is met with precision. Once complete, the Town Hall will stand as a bridge between Nagpur’s royal Bhonsle legacy and modern administrative efficiency.