Nashik civic body allows works of up to Rs 10 lakh without tenders

Nashik: In a bid to accelerate small but essential civic works, the civic body has allowed projects costing up to Rs 10 lakh to be executed without inviting tenders, aiming to cut delays and improve service delivery.

As per a circular issued by Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) chief Manisha Khatri, such works will now be assigned directly to unemployed engineers and local labour co-operative construction societies, particularly for projects funded under corporators’ and ward development funds.

“Time-consuming procedures involved in floating tenders and issuing work orders delay project completion and hamper timely resolution of residents’ issues,” an official said.

The decision primarily targets basic civic infrastructure works such as water supply, drainage, and minor public projects, which often require urgent attention at the ward level.

Civic authorities said the move aligns with an existing govt resolution permitting projects up to Rs 10 lakh to be allotted to approved co-operative societies. While such works are typically processed through offline tenders under public works department norms, officials noted that procedural bottlenecks frequently slow implementation.

With the new mechanism, NMC aims to prioritise urgent works raised by corporators and residents, ensuring quicker redressal of civic complaints and reducing inconvenience caused by delays.

At the same time, the civic body clarified that execution will still adhere to prescribed rules and administrative approvals. “While tenders will not be mandatory for such works, execution will follow prescribed procedural rules,” officials said.

The move also gains significance in the current financial year, as NMC has allocated funds under corporators’ and ward development heads for 2026-27. Unspent funds from the previous year will be carried forward, expanding the resource pool.

Sources said each corporator, including co-opted members, is likely to have access to around Rs 77 lakh for ward-level works, with the total corpus for such civic projects estimated at Rs 93 crore, including previous allocations.

Officials said the decision is expected to ensure timely implementation of small-scale infrastructure projects and improve delivery of basic amenities across the city.