Nagpur: The Indian National Congress on Tuesday, January 6, released its manifesto for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) Elections 2026, unveiling an ambitious set of promises directly linked to the everyday lives of Nagpur’s citizens. The manifesto outlines more than 17 major public welfare schemes, with a strong focus on civic amenities, social justice and economic relief.
Key promises include 24×7 water supply with up to 30,000 litres free per household per month, complete waiver of property tax for houses up to 500 sq ft, and free city bus travel for women, students, senior citizens, freedom fighters and ex-servicemen.
20-point roadmap for ‘Clean, Safe and Smart Nagpur’
Gold Rate
07 Jan 2026
In its manifesto, the Congress has sharply criticised the 19-year rule of the BJP in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, holding it responsible for what it termed as “administrative failure, corruption and erosion of civic services.” As a counter, the party has presented a 20-point comprehensive and people-centric roadmap, pledging to transform Nagpur into a clean, safe and smart city.
The manifesto was formally released in Marathi and Hindi at a function held at Mahakalkar Hall, in the presence of Harshwardhan Sapkal, President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. The event was attended by senior leaders including Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Kunal Chaudhary, State Co-incharge, Ranjit Kamble, City Observer, Vikas Thakre, President of Nagpur City (District) Congress Committee, MLC Abhijit Wanjari, MPCC spokesperson Atul Londhe, former minister Anis Ahmed, former MLA Ashok Dhawad, and Dinesh Banabakode, Congress election in-charge for Nagpur. The gathering also included 151 Congress candidates, who were addressed during the programme.
Reiterating its commitment to citizen-centric governance, the Congress said the manifesto aims to provide quality and effective basic civic services, while easing the growing financial burden imposed on citizens over the years.
Mission 100 Corporators
The party also reiterated its already-announced ‘Mission 100 Congress Corporators’ campaign, expressing confidence that with public support, Congress will secure a decisive mandate to ensure Nagpur’s holistic development. Leaders asserted that all party office-bearers and workers would work in unity to safeguard the interests of Nagpurkars.
Key promises in Congress manifesto
Among the headline assurances made in the 20-point programme are:
• Complete property tax waiver for houses up to 500 sq ft
• Round-the-clock drinking water supply, with 30,000 litres per month free per household
• Free travel on ‘Aapli Bus’ for women, students, senior citizens, ex-servicemen and freedom fighters
• Twice-daily door-to-door garbage collection
• Freehold rights for plots under NMC, NIT and Nazul lease
• Ownership titles for all slum dwellers
• Free tools and equipment for persons with disabilities for self-employment
• Free shops and platforms for BPL families in marketplaces
• Special self-employment schemes for graduates
• Temporary employment opportunities for youth in NMC and NIT
• Traffic congestion-free city through Intelligent Traffic Management and a Comprehensive Mobility Plan
• Permanent solutions to flooding and waterlogging
• Pothole-free roads across the city
• 151 English-medium schools with free education
• Permanent relocation of Bhandewadi dumping yard
• RL approval for unauthorised plots on reservation land
• Mosquito-free, healthy city
• Permanent sewage management solutions
• Creation of 151 hawker zones and food streets
Wider vision for urban development
Beyond core civic issues, the Congress has promised:
• Free Wi-Fi at major squares and markets
• Free parking in malls and shopping complexes
• Development of 151 new gardens
• Beautification of Nag, Pili and Pora rivers, and all city lakes with musical fountains and food zones
• Smart traffic signals and hi-tech streetlights
• 151 new vegetable and meat markets
• Transfer of open spaces and PU lands of regularised layouts to NMC
• Formation of ward committees with citizen participation
• Creation of five new municipal zones
• Adequate public toilets and new walker streets
• 151 new playgrounds
• A new development plan for the city
• Development of 15 new malls
• Massive tree plantation and conservation of heritage trees
• Regular cleaning of major drains
• 151 e-libraries, competitive exam guidance and training centres
• 151 community halls, gyms, yoga sheds and green gyms, along with renovation of existing facilities
• Construction of essential railway overbridges, underbridges, flyovers and pedestrian bridges
• Fast-tracking of MIHAN, cargo hub, SEZ and new airport projects
• Development and redevelopment of crematoriums, burial grounds and new ghats
Sharp attack on BJP’s 19-year NMC rule
The manifesto carries a detailed indictment of the BJP’s governance in NMC, accusing it of:
• Failure of the 24×7 water supply scheme, benefiting a private operator to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore, while citizens faced high water bills and shortages
• Annual hikes in water tariffs
• Severe mismanagement during Covid-19, leading to shortages of beds, oxygen and tests
• Collapse of ‘Aapli Bus’ service and a poorly planned Rs 10,000 crore Metro project
• Rs 3,600 crore Smart City project remaining largely on paper
• Rs 500 crore waste management contracts enriching contractors while the city remained filthy
• Substandard cement roads causing daily inconvenience and accidents
• Chronic flooding during monsoon
• Non-functional streetlights compromising public safety
• Failure of Rs 500 crore CCTV project
• Collapse of Rs 200 crore Integrated Traffic Management System
• Rampant corruption, including the stationery scam
• Privatization of public gardens like Ambazari, denying citizen access
• Encroachment of playgrounds and PU lands
• Proliferation of land mafia
• Denial of ownership rights to slum dwellers
• Civic paralysis due to lack of coordination between NMC and NIT
• Cratered roads and worsening conditions during monsoon
• Failure to rejuvenate rivers and lakes
• No new planned vegetable markets or malls
• Harassment of hawkers under builder-friendly policies
• Failure to control mosquito-borne and viral diseases
• Collapse of public healthcare infrastructure
• Closure of Marathi, Hindi and Urdu medium schools and declining education standards
With the manifesto, the Congress has sought to position itself as a clear alternative to the incumbent BJP, promising relief-driven governance, accountability and a decisive shift towards inclusive urban development ahead of the NMC polls.
