Nagpur's Mayoral Residence Crisis: A Last-Minute Scramble Before Election
As Nagpur prepares to elect its 55th mayor on February 6, a glaring civic oversight has emerged: Maharashtra's second capital has never provided an official residence for its mayor. This embarrassing reality extends even to Amravati, highlighting a systemic neglect in the region's urban governance.
Administrative Action Under Political Pressure
Acting on directives from district guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the state Public Works Department (PWD) has initiated urgent measures to secure a government bungalow for the incoming mayor. The focus has shifted to bungalow no. 28/2 in Anand Nagar, Civil Lines, currently occupied by MahaMetro.
In a letter dated February 2 addressed to MahaMetro managing director Shravan Hardikar, the PWD demanded immediate vacation of the property after settlement of pending dues. Copies were marked to the divisional commissioner, district collector, and senior PWD engineers, emphasizing the political urgency ahead of the mayoral poll.
A Stark Contrast With Other Cities
The absence of a mayoral residence stands in sharp contrast to other Maharashtra cities. Mumbai, Pune, and even smaller urban centers have long ensured official accommodations for their mayors. Nagpur, despite serving as the state's winter capital and hosting the legislature annually, has denied this basic courtesy to its mayors since independence.
This historical oversight has transformed into a public embarrassment, particularly with the election just days away. The hurried attempt to reclaim the Anand Nagar bungalow appears as a belated effort to correct a long-standing civic lapse under intense public scrutiny.
MahaMetro's Rent Default and Concession Withdrawal
The PWD letter has exposed MahaMetro's significant rent default. Government records reveal that in September 2020, the bungalow was allotted to MahaMetro for office use at a monthly rent of ₹6.70 lakh. Astonishingly, not a single rupee was paid, with arrears now amounting to ₹2.82 crore.
Even after MahaMetro shifted to its own Metro Bhavan, the agency sought to retain the bungalow as the residence of its managing director. In March 2024, the government agreed, reducing the rent to a token ₹1,000 per month. This concession has now been abruptly withdrawn, with authorities asserting that mayoral protocol and institutional dignity must take precedence.
Sources indicate that Shravan Hardikar currently occupies the bungalow but will be required to vacate it. MahaMetro officials were unavailable for comment on the development.
Unanswered Questions and Institutional Failure
The fundamental question remains: why did Nagpur require a public embarrassment, particularly days before an election, to address the basic need of providing its mayor with an official home? This episode highlights deeper institutional failures in urban planning and administrative prioritization.
The last-minute scramble to rectify a decades-old oversight raises concerns about governance efficiency and political accountability. As Nagpur voters prepare to elect their next mayor, this incident underscores the importance of transparent administration and proper civic infrastructure in India's urban centers.
