Nagpur: Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has assured that citizens and students from rural areas adjoining Nagpur city will soon get access to a robust and well-planned public transport system. He was speaking at the District Planning Committee (DPC) meeting held at the Niyojan Bhavan on Monday.
With the rapid urban expansion and growing inflow of people from surrounding villages for education and employment, Bawankule emphasized the urgent need for a reliable transport network. Currently, the metro rail, city buses, and MSRTC services are operational within Nagpur and nearby municipal limits. However, rural areas require better connectivity with these facilities. He directed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority, MSRTC, and Metro Rail authorities to coordinate and prepare a long-term plan to strengthen public transport infrastructure.
Annual Plan of ₹1,327 Crore Approved:
The district annual plan for 2025-26 received an approved outlay of ₹1,327 crore, including ₹1,047 crore for general schemes, ₹195 crore for Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan, and ₹85 crore for the Tribal Component Scheme. Nearly 30% of the funds have already been released. For the year 2024-25, expenditure of ₹1,218.83 crore (99.99%) out of ₹1,219 crore has been utilized and approved.
Local Procurement to Be Encouraged:
Bawankule also highlighted issues with the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) purchases, where rates are often higher compared to local suppliers. He instructed that if quality and service standards are better at the local level, procurement should be done through a tendering process from local markets, as per government norms.
Directives for Civic Bodies:
The minister directed Nagar Parishads and Nagar Panchayats to immediately demarcate their vacant lands and install boards declaring ownership to prevent encroachments. He also asked municipal bodies to ensure Anganwadis are upgraded on the lines of model AI Anganwadis, with funds to be provided through the annual plan and Women and Child Welfare Department.
Strengthening Irrigation and Agriculture Support:
To address the falling groundwater levels in some regions, the minister announced plans to promote water conservation and install solar-powered pumps where necessary. A comprehensive plan for strengthening the irrigation network of Pench project canals will also be prepared to support agriculture.
Five New Ambulances for PHCs:
As part of the annual plan, five new ambulances were purchased for Primary Health Centres (PHCs) at Zilpa (Mouda), Bharegad (Mouda), Ghatpendhri (Parseoni), Tishti (Saoner), and Pachgaon (Savner). The vehicles were inaugurated by Guardian Minister Bawankule and Minister of State for Finance Adv. Ashish Jaiswal.
Sports Facilities and Distribution of Kits:
In a boost to sports development, the Guardian Minister launched two new software platforms developed by the District Sports Office under the state’s 100-day action plan. The platforms will integrate information on stadium development, gymnasiums, youth welfare schemes, and athlete management systems to track players’ growth. Additionally, 121 Zilla Parishad schools will receive sports equipment worth ₹3 lakh each, with symbolic distribution held during the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Finance Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, MP Shyamkumar Barve, MLCs Abhijit Wanjari, Parinay Phuke, Krupal Tumane, MLAs Nitin Raut, Krishna Khopde, Vikas Thakre, Praveen Datke, Ashish Deshmukh, Chransingh Thakur, Sameer Meghe, Sanjay Meshram, Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijit Chaudhary, NIT Chairman Sanjay Mina, District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar, SP Dr Harsh Poddar, CEO of Zilla Parishad Vinayak Mahamuni, District Planning Officer Sanjay Kadu, and other senior officials.
