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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
[[Image:NIT Logo.JPG|thumb|right|100px|Logo of Nagpur Improvement Trust]]
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
'''Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT)'''({{Lang-mr|'''नागपूर सुधार प्रन्यास [नासुप्र]'''}}) is a local civic government body with the task of developing new areas within city limits of [[Nagpur]], [[India]] and maintaining existing city infrastructure. Trust works along with [[Nagpur Municipal Corporation]](NMC) which is an elected body of city representatives(Corporator). NIT itself is not a democratically elected civic body and has members appointed in it from various levels like [[Government of Maharashtra]], NMC and other representatives of Nagpur city. NIT thus has a small management body as compared to NMC.<ref name="NIT Org">{{cite web|url=http://nitnagpur.org/home.html|title=About us|publisher=nitnagpur.org|accessdate=2008-06-20}}</ref> NIT holds the planning and development authority for Nagpur city but does not receive any funds from state government. Funds needed for development work is raised by NIT through the auction of newly developed areas.<ref name="NIT Org" />
{{Infobox organization
| name = Nagpur Improvement Trust
| native_name = नागपूर सुधार प्रन्यास
| native_name_lang = mr
| logo = Nagpur Improvement Trust (logo).jpg
| abbreviation = NIT
| location_city = Nagpur
| location_country = India
| website = {{URL|nitnagpur.org}}
}}


'''Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT)''' ({{Langx|mr|'''नागपूर सुधार प्रन्यास [नासुप्र]'''}}) is an [[Urban Development Authority (India)|urban development authority]] with the task of developing new areas within the city limits of [[Nagpur]], [[India]] and maintaining existing city infrastructure. This trust works along with [[Nagpur Municipal Corporation]] (NMC) which is an elected body of city representatives (Corporation). NIT itself is not a democratically elected civic body and has members appointed in it from various levels like [[Government of Maharashtra]], NMC and other representatives of Nagpur. NIT thus has a small management body as compared to NMC.<ref name="NIT Org">{{cite web|url=http://nitnagpur.org/home.html|title=About us|publisher=nitnagpur.org|accessdate=2008-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417055901/http://www.nitnagpur.org/home.html|archive-date=17 April 2008|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> NIT holds the planning and development authority for Nagpur but does not receive any funds from state government. Funds needed for development work are raised by NIT through the auction of newly developed areas.<ref name="NIT Org" />
=Preface=
NAGPUR, the second capital of Maharashtra and the second greenest City of IndIa. popularly known as "Orange City" IS spread across an area of 217 sq.kms. It is an Important rail road Junction and anupcoming industrial hu~buzzing with hectic commercial activities.


==Overview==
Historically the City of Nagpur was the capital of the erstwhile Central Provinces and Berar The need for planned development of the city was felt at that time,as the existing Municipal CommIttee was not equipped to undertake such a gigantic task nor did it have the ability to generate the necessary funds.


NIT has played a major role in the expansion and maintaining Nagpur in its past 65+ years of work. However, the existence of NIT alongside NMC has been criticized several times as a violation of [[constitution of India]]. Several [[Chief Ministers of Maharashtra]] and former [[Governor of Maharashtra]] tried to abolish this agency but did not succeed. The argument is that the Constitution of India allows only democratically elected bodies to carry out the work of civic administration. Since NIT is not such a body, it has been demanded by several political bodies to abolish the NIT Act of 1936 or to merge NIT with NMC. It has been claimed that due to political reasons state government has failed to take any action till now.<ref name="Trust lords it over Nagpur civic body">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/trust-lords-it-over-nagpur-civic-body/articleshow/16803544.cms|title=Trust lords it over Nagpur civic body|last=Bhagwat |first=Ramu|date=24 July 2002|publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=2023-05-23}}</ref> However, there are similar organizations like the Mumbai Metropolitan and Area Development Authority (MMRDA), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and several such agencies that are functioning in the country today and the argument of NIT not fulfilling constitutional requirements has not been substantiated in the courts of law.
With this view "The Nagpur Improvement Trust" was formed by enacting Nagpur Improvement Trust Act, 1936. Actual functioning of Nagpur Improvement Trust started in the year 1937. The goal set before the Nagpur Improvement Trust was,to develop new areas within the city of Nagpur cater to the needs of the growing population.


==History==
For proper development of the city, the "Nagpur Improvement Trust" has powers to form various types of schemes. For Implementation of these schemes powers of "Planning Authority" as well as "Development Authority" are vested with the Nagpur Improvement Trust. During the last 6 decades of its existence, Nagpur Improvement Trust has transformed the sleepy old city Into an emerging Metro by executing 45 development schemes whereby about 55% area of Nagpur City has been developed.
Nagpur is an important city in central India and during days of [[British Raj]] two separate committees were formed to look after city's development. The Nagpur Municipal Committee was established in 1864. The Civil Station Sub-Committee was established in 1884. In 1928, the Municipal Committee passed a resolution for creating an "Improvement Trust" for Nagpur which was established in 1937 under the ''Nagpur Improvement Trust Act, 1936''. NIT began functioning in 1937 and has collateral jurisdiction over the areas within the limits of the town wherever schemes are prepared by the trust and approved by the government.
These schemes and projects undertaken by NIT, have given a face-lift to this historic City. The implemented projects have improved the urban environment of the City and upgraded the existing infrastructure adequate enough to meet the growing demands of rapid urbanization and increasing population. Now the State Govt. of Maharashtra vide G.R. dated 24.12.2002 has extended the jurisdiction of NIT beyond the Municipal limits of Nagpur over an area that constitutes the Metro Region thereby widening the scope of its work.


After [[Partition of India|Indian independence]], the Town Planning Department was established in 1947 under [[Central Provinces and Berar]] State Town Planning Expert with head office at Nagpur. The Department functioned under the administrative control of the local Self-Government Department. The ''Central Provinces and Berar Town Planning Act'' was enacted in 1948 and the ''Central Provinces and Berar Regulation of Uses of Land Act'' was also enacted in the same year to provide for the making and execution of town planning schemes and to regulate the development of areas with the object of securing proper sanitary conditions, amenities and convenience to persons living in such areas and in neighboring areas.
Because of the small size of the managing body of Nagpur Improvement Trust, the decision-making is speedy and effective which is the hallmark of any dynamic institution. Unlike other institutions managed by the State Government, NIT does not receive any grant whatsoever, from the State Government. As a result, there is no financial burden on the State Government on account of NIT.


Later with creation of [[Maharashtra]], Nagpur became part of Maharashtra. A new branch office of this department came into existence at Nagpur for the four districts of Nagpur, [[Chandrapur]], [[Wardha]] and [[Bhandara district|Bhandara]]. The Nagpur department continued to function along with NMC.<ref name="gazetteer">{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/FINAL_GAZETTEE/local1.html|title=Administration|publisher=www.maharashtra.gov.in|accessdate=2008-06-20}}</ref>
Over the last six decades, the City has got the much needed face lift owing to the all round efforts put in by Nagpur Improvement Trust. This information book is a humble attempt on our part to bnef the readers about various schemes that have been successfully planned and executed by NIT so far.
==NIT - The Scope==
As the Planning Authority and Development Authority for the entire Nagpur
Metropolitan region, NIT's jurisdiction touches all aspects of the city's development.


== Organization ==
NIT is the sole authority for land Planning and land Acquisition and is responsible for
infrastructure such as roads, streetlights, drainage & sewerage systems and public
utilities to meet the diverse needs of the citizens.


NIT is governed by a board of trustees. The board consists of nine trustees, of which five are elected representatives of the local and state government and four are from the Central and State [[Civil Services of India|civil services]]: <ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/after-8-yrs-govt-names-all-3-trustees-to-nit-raises-question-on-dissolution/articleshow/95515302.cms|title=After 8 yrs, govt names all 3 trustees to NIT, raises question on dissolution|date=15 November 2022|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2023-05-23}}</ref> <ref name="NIT Org" />
=Working:=


* Elected Representatives from [[Nagpur Municipal Corporation]] (NMC) and [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
As per the Provisions of Section 27 of the act, NIT is empowered to plan and execute various development schemes. An improvement scheme shall be one of the following types or may combine any two or more of such types, or any of the special features there of, that is to say,
** A [[ Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)]] of the who is a resident of Nagpur
** Three members appointed by the [[Government of Maharashtra]]
** Chairman of [[Standing Committee]] of NMC
** A Corporator nominated by NMC General body


* Civil Servants
(a) a general improvement scheme;
** A Chairman, who is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer (currently Manoj Kumar Suryawanshi)
** Commissioner of NMC
** Joint Director, Town Planning, [[Nagpur Division]]


*Trustee :- '''[[Vikas Thakre|Shri Vikas Pandurangji Thakre]]'''
(b) a re-building scheme;
*General Manager :- '''Shri Nishikant Suke'''


== Work ==
(c) a re-housing scheme;
The major responsibilities of NIT include - housing schemes, rebuilding of certain city pockets, maintaining city streets, drainage, sanitation, and other city improvement schemes.<ref name="NIT Org" />


The NIT act of 1936 allows NIT to acquire land from surrounding rural areas to develop into new urban layouts.<ref name="NIT Act">{{cite web|url=https://www.nitnagpur.org/pdf/nit_act.pdf|format=PDF|title=The Nagpur Improvement Trust Act, 1936|publisher=Government of Maharashtra|accessdate=2023-05-23}}</ref> Money needed to acquire these lands and develop them is recovered back by the auction to general public when they are ready.<ref name="NIT Org" /> Once a new area of the city is developed by NIT it is handed back to NMC for maintenance. NMC then recovers the money in form of various taxes from the residents of which two percent is given back to NIT. NIT in turn has the responsibility to provide drinking water and sewage disposal for these areas.<ref name="NIT, NMC row over property tax">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/NIT-NMC-row-over-property-tax/articleshow/2370699.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021025932/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-09-15/nagpur/27969730_1_nmc-nagpur-municipal-corporation-property-tax|url-status=live|archive-date=21 October 2012|title=NIT, NMC row over property tax|date=15 September 2007|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2008-06-24}}</ref> NIT also distributes significant land acquired to weaker sections of the society at considerably lower rates.<ref name="NIT Org" /> NIT also undertakes the work of regularization of unauthorized residential zones. NIT is also responsible for maintaining the 8 major gardens and 40 mini gardens in Nagpur.<ref name="Gardens">{{cite web|url=http://nitnagpur.org/gardens.html|title=Gardens|publisher=nitnagpur.org|accessdate=2008-06-24|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824150023/http://www.nitnagpur.org/gardens.html|archivedate=24 August 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Various lakes and city monuments that come under the jurisdiction of local bodies are maintained by NIT.
(d) a street scheme;

(e) a deferred street scheme;

(f) a development scheme;

(g) a housing accommodation scheme;

[(h) a future expansion or improvement scheme] ;

[(i) a drainage or drainage including sewage disposal scheme.]

Thus the Nagpur Improvement Trust has played a major role in changing the visage of the city. By playing a crucial role in area planning and development. the NIT primarily undertook to plan and execute development of various pockets of the city. It has been a relentless forging ahead on this front single-handedly for the NIT for the past 65 years.

Section 57 of the act provides for the handing over of layouts developed by NIT to NMC for maintenance. Section 57 is reproduced below for quick reference:
-
57 Whenever the Trust is satisfied

a) that any street laid out or altered by the Trust has been duly leveled, paved, metalled, flagged, channeled, sewer-ed, and drained in the manner provided in the plans sanctioned by the (State)Government under this act, and

b) that such lamps, lamp-posts, and the other apparatus as the Trust may consider necessary for the lighting of such streets have been so provided, and

c) that water and the other sanitary conveniences ordinarily provided (in the city) have been duly provided in such street.

the Trust may call upon (the Corporation) by a notice in writing, to take over the management of such street within a period specified in the notice, which shall not be less than one month and, on -receiving such a notice (the Corporation) shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (3) by a ,i written notice affixed in some conspicuous place in such street, declare the street to be a public street; and the street shall thereupon vest in (the Corporation) and shall henceforth be maintained, kept in repair, lighted and cleansed by (the Corporation);

2) When any open space for purposes of ventilation or recreation has been provided by the Trust in executing any improvement scheme, it shall on completion, be transferred to (the Corporation) by a resolution of the Trust and shall thereupon vest in, and be maintained at the expenses of (the Corporation); provided that (the Corporation) may require the Trust, before any such open space is so transferred, to enclose, level, drain and layout such space and provide footpaths therein.

3) I f any difference of opinion arises between the Trust and (the Corporation) in respect of any matter referred to in the foregoing provisions of this sections, the matter shall be referred to the (State) Government, whose decision shall be final.

4) The (State) Government may resume the management of any street or open space (..... ) vested in the Trust under clause (b) of sub-section of section 45.
The Constitution of NIT
As the end result of the sustained endeavor of the NIT is to better the life of the denizens. its Constitution too aims at making it more people-oriented. As per the provisions of the NIT Act. the management and working of NIT has been entrusted to a Board of Trustees. A senior IAS Officer of the rank of Secretary or Commissioner heads the Board as its Chairman. This Chairman is a State-Government appointee.

Other Members of the board are:

1. Commissioner, NMC. Nagpur Ex-officio Member.

2. Deputy Director. Town Planning. Nagpur Division Ex-officio Member.

3. Chairman. Standing Committee. NMC Ex-officio Member.

4. A Corporator elected by NMC.

.5. A member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly who is a resident of Nagpur City.

6. Three members appointed by the State Government.

Thus it can be seen that the provisions ensure that there is adequate participation of people's representatives in the work of the NIT. The Constitution has made the NIT accountable to the public at different levels. The appointment of three NMC members to the Board is yet another progressive step towards this.

==Working of NIT :==
As per the provisions of the Right to fair compensation and transparency in land acquisition act, 2013, the acquisition and disposal of land by agreement or compulsory acquisition is carried out by NIT in the following manner.

NIT outlines schemes and sends the same to the Government for their sanction. On obtaining the required sanction, NIT acquires the land as per the identified areas to execute development work in the layouts as per the scheme chalked out. The plots in
the developed layouts are then sold by NIT by auction. Revenue generated through the
auctioning of plots in the developed layouts constitutes NIT's major source of funds
which are utilized for carrying out various activities.

Part of the acquired land is retained by NIT and developed for public utility, open spaces, civic amenities etc. Public utility land areas are also allotted to public -institutions by NIT on concessional rates thereby contributing to social welfare.

==Community Welfare==

NIT also distributes significant part of the acquired land to economically weaker sections of society at nominal rates. 20,000 plots have been distributed so far under NIT's scheme of land Distribution for community welfare.

Since its inception, NIT has functioned as the backbone of city planning. Due to the land Planning and Development function effectively carried out by NIT over the past 6 decades, Nagpur has emerged as one of the most well planned cities. Nagpur is probably the only city in India with such well developed layout structure and open spaces.

NIT has also undertaken road widening scheme for the city for which NIT has spent large amount from its own funds for betterment of prime roads such as C.A.Road, Panchpaoli Road [Phase I & II), Ganga Jamuna Road, Itwari Station Road and several other roads passing through remote areas have also been revived under NIT's public oriented schemes.<ref>http://nitnagpur.org/home.html</ref>

== Overview ==

NIT has played a major role in expansion and maintaining Nagpur in its past its bad 65+ years of work. However, existence of NIT alongside NMC has been criticized several times as violation of [[constitution of India]]. Several [[Chief Ministers of Maharashtra]] and former [[Governor of Maharashtra]] tried to abolish this agency but did not succeed. The Argument is that the Constitution of India allows only democratically elected bodies to carry out the work of civic administration. Since NIT is not such a body, it has been demanded by several political bodies to abolish the NIT Act of 1936 or to merge NIT with NMC. It has been claimed that due to political reasons state government has failed to take any action till now.<ref name="Trust lords it over Nagpur civic body">{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-25969044_ITM|title=Trust lords it over Nagpur civic body|last=Bhagwat |first=Ramu|date=24 July 2002|publisher=The Economic Times|accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref> However, there are similar organizations like the Mumbai Metropolitan and Area Development Authority (MMRDA), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and several such agencies that are functioning in the country today and the argument of NIT not fulfilling Constitutional Requirements has ot been substantiated in the Courts of Law. NIT has also faced criticism from those farmers which had to hand over their lands as per NIT directives and [[Urban land ceiling act]].<ref name="Harsh land Act cripples Maharashtra farmers">{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990528/ige28025.html|title=Harsh land Act cripples Maharashtra farmers|last=Haque|first=Moiz Mannan|date= May 28, 1999|publisher=www.indianexpress.com|accessdate=2008-06-27}}</ref>

== History ==
Nagpur is an important city in central India and during days of [[British Raj]] two separate committees were formed to look after city's development. The Nagpur Municipal Committee was established in 1864. The Civil Station Sub-Committee was established in 1884. In 1928, the Municipal Committee passed a resolution for creating an "Improvement Trust" for Nagpur which was established in 1937 under the ''Nagpur Improvement Trust Act, 1936''. NIT began functioning in 1937 and has collateral jurisdiction over the areas within the limits of the town wherever schemes are prepared by the trust and approved by the government.

After [[Indian independence]], the Town Planning department was established in 1947 under [[Central Provinces and Berar]] State Town Planning Expert with head office at Nagpur. The department functioned under the administrative control of the local Self-Government Department. The ''Central Provinces and Berar Town Planning Act'' was enacted in 1948 and the ''Central Provinces and Berar Regulation of Uses of Land Act'' was also enacted in the same year to provide for the making and execution of town planning schemes and to regulate the development of areas with the object of securing proper sanitary conditions, amenities and convenience to persons living in such areas and in neighboring areas.

Later with creation of [[Maharashtra]], Nagpur became part of Maharashtra state. A new branch office of this department came into existence at Nagpur for the four districts of Nagpur, [[Chandrapur]], [[Wardha]] and [[Bhandara]]. Nagpur department continued to function along with NMC.<ref name="gazetteer">{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/FINAL_GAZETTEE/local1.html|title=Administration|publisher=www.maharashtra.gov.in|accessdate=2008-06-20}}</ref>

== Organization ==
NIT board members include -
# A Chairman, who is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer (currently [[Shyam Wardhane]])
# Commissioner of [[Nagpur Municipal Corporation]].
# Deputy Director of Town Planning for [[Nagpur Division]].
# Chairman of [[Standing Committee]].
# One Corporator elected by NMC.
# A member of the Maharashtra [[Legislative Assembly]] who is a resident of Nagpur City.
# Three members appointed by the State [[Government of Maharashtra]].<ref name="NIT Org" />

== Work ==
Nagpur Improvement Trust has played a major role in transforming Nagpur into a mega city. Its major responsibilities include - housing schemes, rebuilding of certain city pockets, maintaining city streets, drainage and sanitation and city improvement schemes.<ref name="NIT Org" />


In 2007, NIT unveiled the plans for setting up the [[Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority]] (NMRDA). NIT was given the status of development authority by the state government and it has identified a total area of 3780&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> for the [[Greater Nagpur Metropolitan Area]] excluding the area under NMC limits. The first phase of this Nagpur Metropolitan Region is to cover 1,520&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of area.<ref name="NIT plans metro with eyes on 2031">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/NIT_plans_metro_with_eyes_on_2031/rssarticleshow/2544648.cms|title=NIT plans metro with eyes on 2031|date=16 November 2007|work=TNN|publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref>
NIT act of 1936, allows NIT to acquire land from surrounding rural areas to develop into new urban layouts.<ref name="NIT Act">{{cite web|url=http://nitnagpur.org/pdf/nit_act.pdf|format=PDF|title=NIT Act|publisher=nitnagpur.org|accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref> Money needed to acquire these lands and develop them is recovered back by the auction to general public when they are ready.<ref name="NIT Org" /> Once a new area of the city is developed by NIT it is handed back to NMC for maintenance. NMC then recovers the money in form of various taxes from the residents of which two percent is given back to NIT. NIT in turns has the responsibility to provide drinking water and sewage disposal for these areas.<ref name="NIT, NMC row over property tax">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-09-15/nagpur/27969730_1_nmc-nagpur-municipal-corporation-property-tax|title=NIT, NMC row over property tax|date=15 September 2007|work=TNN|publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref> NIT also distributes significant land acquired to weaker sections of the society at considerably lower rates.<ref name="NIT Org" /> NIT also undertakes the work of regularization of unauthorized residential zones. NIT is also responsible for maintaining the 8 major gardens and 40 mini gardens in Nagpur.<ref name="Gardens">{{cite web|url=http://nitnagpur.org/gardens.html|title=Gardens|publisher=nitnagpur.org|accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref> Various lakes and city monuments that come under the jurisdiction of local bodies are maintained by NIT. It has recently started a project to rejuvenate the [[Futala Lake]] in city.<ref name=" Beautification Of Futala Lake">{{cite web|url=http://nitnagpur.org/futala.html|title= Beautification Of Futala Lake|publisher=nitnagpur.org|accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref> NIT is also working on rejuvenating the [[Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur]] on a [[Build-Operate-Transfer]] basis.<ref name="Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital, Nagpur">{{cite web|url=http://nitnagpur.org/igmc.html|title=Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital, Nagpur|publisher=nitnagpur.org|accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref>


==See also==
In 2007, NIT unveiled the plans for setting up the Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority(NMRDA). NIT was given the status of development authority by the state government and it has identified a total area of 3780&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> for the [[Greater Nagpur Metropolitan Area]] excluding the area under NMC limits. The first phase of this Nagpur Metropolitan Region is to cover 1, 520&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of area.<ref name="NIT plans metro with eyes on 2031">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/NIT_plans_metro_with_eyes_on_2031/rssarticleshow/2544648.cms|title=NIT plans metro with eyes on 2031|date=16 November 2007|work=TNN|publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|accessdate=2008-06-24}}</ref> NIT is also planning to build a monorail in Nagpur. [[Maharashtra Airport Development Company]] ( MADC ) which is currently building [[MIHAN]] in Nagpur has also shown keen interest in the project.<ref name="MADC keen on building monorail in Nagpur">{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/search/storypage_new.php?leftnm=1&leftindx=1&subLeft=1&autono=281306|title=MADC keen on building monorail in Nagpur|date=April 16, 2007|work=BS Reporter|publisher=www.business-standard.com|accessdate=2008-06-27}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
* [[Nagpur Municipal Corporation]]
* [[Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Nagpur}}
{{Nagpur}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Government of Nagpur]]
[[Category:Government of Nagpur]]
[[Category:State urban development authorities of India]]
[[Category:Urban development authorities in India]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1937]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1937]]
[[Category:1937 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1937 establishments in India]]

Latest revision as of 05:26, 22 November 2024

Nagpur Improvement Trust
नागपूर सुधार प्रन्यास
AbbreviationNIT
Location
  • Nagpur, India
Websitenitnagpur.org

Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) (Marathi: नागपूर सुधार प्रन्यास [नासुप्र]) is an urban development authority with the task of developing new areas within the city limits of Nagpur, India and maintaining existing city infrastructure. This trust works along with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) which is an elected body of city representatives (Corporation). NIT itself is not a democratically elected civic body and has members appointed in it from various levels like Government of Maharashtra, NMC and other representatives of Nagpur. NIT thus has a small management body as compared to NMC.[1] NIT holds the planning and development authority for Nagpur but does not receive any funds from state government. Funds needed for development work are raised by NIT through the auction of newly developed areas.[1]

Overview

[edit]

NIT has played a major role in the expansion and maintaining Nagpur in its past 65+ years of work. However, the existence of NIT alongside NMC has been criticized several times as a violation of constitution of India. Several Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and former Governor of Maharashtra tried to abolish this agency but did not succeed. The argument is that the Constitution of India allows only democratically elected bodies to carry out the work of civic administration. Since NIT is not such a body, it has been demanded by several political bodies to abolish the NIT Act of 1936 or to merge NIT with NMC. It has been claimed that due to political reasons state government has failed to take any action till now.[2] However, there are similar organizations like the Mumbai Metropolitan and Area Development Authority (MMRDA), Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and several such agencies that are functioning in the country today and the argument of NIT not fulfilling constitutional requirements has not been substantiated in the courts of law.

History

[edit]

Nagpur is an important city in central India and during days of British Raj two separate committees were formed to look after city's development. The Nagpur Municipal Committee was established in 1864. The Civil Station Sub-Committee was established in 1884. In 1928, the Municipal Committee passed a resolution for creating an "Improvement Trust" for Nagpur which was established in 1937 under the Nagpur Improvement Trust Act, 1936. NIT began functioning in 1937 and has collateral jurisdiction over the areas within the limits of the town wherever schemes are prepared by the trust and approved by the government.

After Indian independence, the Town Planning Department was established in 1947 under Central Provinces and Berar State Town Planning Expert with head office at Nagpur. The Department functioned under the administrative control of the local Self-Government Department. The Central Provinces and Berar Town Planning Act was enacted in 1948 and the Central Provinces and Berar Regulation of Uses of Land Act was also enacted in the same year to provide for the making and execution of town planning schemes and to regulate the development of areas with the object of securing proper sanitary conditions, amenities and convenience to persons living in such areas and in neighboring areas.

Later with creation of Maharashtra, Nagpur became part of Maharashtra. A new branch office of this department came into existence at Nagpur for the four districts of Nagpur, Chandrapur, Wardha and Bhandara. The Nagpur department continued to function along with NMC.[3]

Organization

[edit]

NIT is governed by a board of trustees. The board consists of nine trustees, of which five are elected representatives of the local and state government and four are from the Central and State civil services: [4] [1]

  • Civil Servants
    • A Chairman, who is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer (currently Manoj Kumar Suryawanshi)
    • Commissioner of NMC
    • Joint Director, Town Planning, Nagpur Division

Work

[edit]

The major responsibilities of NIT include - housing schemes, rebuilding of certain city pockets, maintaining city streets, drainage, sanitation, and other city improvement schemes.[1]

The NIT act of 1936 allows NIT to acquire land from surrounding rural areas to develop into new urban layouts.[5] Money needed to acquire these lands and develop them is recovered back by the auction to general public when they are ready.[1] Once a new area of the city is developed by NIT it is handed back to NMC for maintenance. NMC then recovers the money in form of various taxes from the residents of which two percent is given back to NIT. NIT in turn has the responsibility to provide drinking water and sewage disposal for these areas.[6] NIT also distributes significant land acquired to weaker sections of the society at considerably lower rates.[1] NIT also undertakes the work of regularization of unauthorized residential zones. NIT is also responsible for maintaining the 8 major gardens and 40 mini gardens in Nagpur.[7] Various lakes and city monuments that come under the jurisdiction of local bodies are maintained by NIT.

In 2007, NIT unveiled the plans for setting up the Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA). NIT was given the status of development authority by the state government and it has identified a total area of 3780 km2 for the Greater Nagpur Metropolitan Area excluding the area under NMC limits. The first phase of this Nagpur Metropolitan Region is to cover 1,520 km2 of area.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "About us". nitnagpur.org. Archived from the original on 17 April 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  2. ^ Bhagwat, Ramu (24 July 2002). "Trust lords it over Nagpur civic body". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Administration". www.maharashtra.gov.in. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  4. ^ "After 8 yrs, govt names all 3 trustees to NIT, raises question on dissolution". The Times of India. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  5. ^ "The Nagpur Improvement Trust Act, 1936" (PDF). Government of Maharashtra. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  6. ^ "NIT, NMC row over property tax". The Times of India. 15 September 2007. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  7. ^ "Gardens". nitnagpur.org. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  8. ^ "NIT plans metro with eyes on 2031". TNN. timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
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