Nagpur: With the Maharashtra Legislature’s Winter Session scheduled to commence in Nagpur from December 7, the administrative machinery has stepped up preparations to ensure that the Second Capital is ready to host the State’s political and bureaucratic establishment. However, the Public Works Department (PWD) faces a race against time, with nearly 150 of the 386 planned works yet to reach the tender-opening stage, raising questions over whether all arrangements will be completed before the arrival of ministers, legislators and government officials.
The Winter Session, which is being held in Nagpur in keeping with the spirit of the Nagpur Pact and the city’s status as Maharashtra’s Second Capital, is an important annual political and administrative event. Ministers, MLAs, senior bureaucrats and thousands of government employees shift their base to Nagpur during the session, bringing the entire administrative machinery to the city.
According to the preparations outlined by the PWD, a total of 386 works have been identified for completion ahead of the session. These include 229 government offices and 157 residential premises allotted to ministers, legislators, officers and government employees. The proposed works cover essential repairs, renovation, painting, electrical installations, water supply arrangements and sanitation facilities.
The department has set November 27 as the target for completing these works, leaving a narrow window before the Legislature’s Winter Session begins on December 7. Ministers, MLAs, officers and other government personnel are expected to start arriving in Nagpur from November 25, making the timely completion of office infrastructure and residential facilities particularly crucial.
However, the progress of the preparations has come under scrutiny as around 150 works are reportedly still awaiting the opening of tenders. In several cases, contractors have not been finalised, while work orders for some projects are also pending. The lack of adequate response to tenders has emerged as a major obstacle, threatening to slow down the execution of works at a time when deadlines are fast approaching.
The situation has placed the PWD under pressure, as even relatively small pending works involving repairs, painting, electrical fittings, water connections and sanitation can affect the readiness of government offices and residential accommodation. Any delay could cause inconvenience to legislators and officials arriving in the city for the month-long administrative exercise associated with the session.
The challenge is particularly significant because the department must ensure that both the premises used for legislative and official activities and the residential facilities are fully functional. Government offices need to be equipped to handle departmental work, while accommodation must have adequate electricity, water supply, cleanliness and other basic amenities before the arrival of the visiting establishment.
Despite the delays in the tendering process, the PWD has maintained that important works are already underway and the remaining assignments will also be completed within the stipulated deadline. The department has expressed confidence that the necessary preparations will be in place before the commencement of the session.
Nevertheless, the gap between the ambitious completion target and the number of works still caught in procedural delays has raised concerns over the pace of execution. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the department can overcome the tender-related hurdles, mobilise contractors and complete all 386 assignments on schedule.
The Winter Session is expected to once again bring the spotlight on Nagpur’s infrastructure and its capacity to accommodate the State’s entire legislative and administrative establishment. Beyond the formal arrangements at Vidhan Bhavan, the preparedness of government offices, official residences and civic facilities will be equally important in ensuring the smooth conduct of the session.
With the first arrivals expected from November 25 and the PWD’s deadline fixed for November 27, the department has little room for further delays. The real test will be whether the preparations on paper translate into fully functional facilities before the State Government’s machinery shifts to Nagpur.
