The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has aggressively intensified its anti-encroachment drive, setting a massive citywide goal to clear 600 kilometers of footpaths every month.
Initiated under the direct orders of Municipal Commissioner Vipin Itankar, the campaign aims to permanently reclaim public walkways for pedestrians.
The 20-km Daily Blueprint
To achieve the monthly milestone, the NMC has broken down the targets across its administrative divisions:
Zonal Targets: Each of Nagpur’s 10 municipal zones must clear 2 km of footpaths daily.
Citywide Combined Target: 20 km of cleared walkways every single day.
The Scope: Out of Nagpur’s estimated 4,500 km of footpaths, more than half (50%+) are currently choked by illegal structures, vendors, and extensions.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Mangesh Khawale clarified that this intensive campaign will run parallel to the NMC’s routine daily anti-encroachment shifts.
Strict Penalties and Enforcement Measures
Learning from past campaigns where vendors returned to the exact same spots within hours of an eviction, Commissioner Itankar has introduced strict new protocols aligned with Supreme Court guidelines:
Zero Tolerance on Extensions: Action will be taken against both temporary unauthorized street vendors and permanent shopkeepers who extend their displays onto walkways.
Heavy Fines: NMC enforcement teams will immediately confiscate all encroaching materials and levy a penalty equal to 25% of the seized goods’ value.
Zonal Accountability: Zonal Assistant Municipal Commissioners will be held directly accountable. They are now mandated to run regular follow-up inspections to ensure cleared stretches remain free from reoccupation.
Why Now?
The sudden crackdown follows a 100-day enforcement campaign that yielded disappointing results. Expressing dissatisfaction over the slow progress, Commissioner Itankar noted that despite previous efforts, citizens were still being dangerously forced to walk on active roads due to blocked footpaths, sparking this revised, high-target strategy.
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