Nagpur is progressing toward finalizing a new Development Plan (DP) after more than 25 years. The draft DP was notified on June 13, 2025, with a 60-day period for public suggestions, which ended on August 13. During this period, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) received 43 proposals, mostly requesting the removal of long-standing reservations that have kept land blocked for decades.
A majority of the suggestions came from landowners in the Nagpur Improvement Trust's (NIT) seven street schemes, where plots have remained under reservation since the last DP in 2000. That plan included 896 reservations for amenities such as parks, schools, roads, cultural centres, and overhead water tanks. Twenty-five years later, only 92 reservations, mainly road projects, have been executed, leaving 804 still pending on paper. This situation has left many property owners unable to develop or sell their land.
Under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, the revised DP is required to be finalized within six months of notification, setting December 13, 2025, as the deadline for publication of the final plan. Officials stress that the new DP aims to reflect current realities by incorporating updated land-use data from NIT and NMC’s engineering divisions.
The draft plan expands coverage to more than 22,700 hectares, including merged areas such as Narsala and Hudkeshwar and covering 57 moujas. However, significant areas in East Nagpur, including Bharatwada, Punapur, Pardi, and Bhandewadi, are excluded due to overlapping jurisdictions with the Smart City project, Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC), and MahaMetro. Critics argue that this piecemeal approach does not meet the requirement for a unified DP as directed by the state government in 2018.
Residents have repeatedly requested deletions of outdated reservations. Many express frustration that their land remains unusable while they continue paying property taxes. A landowner from Aradhana Nagar-1, Manewada-Besa Road, stated that the prolonged delays have trapped property owners, either preventing development or acquisition for intended civic projects.
The DP process under the MRTP Act references sections 23(1), 34, 38, and 154, which provide the legal framework for drafting and finalizing the plan. The authorities have indicated that all suggestions will be reviewed and decisions taken based on merit, but past experience has raised doubts about consistent implementation.
The stakes are high as Nagpur’s population grows and demand for civic amenities increases. The new DP is expected to designate land for playgrounds, parking spaces, schools, cultural centres, and road infrastructure. The effectiveness of the plan will depend on the NMC’s ability to move beyond mapping exercises and ensure that allocated spaces are executed in practice rather than remaining on paper.
The process also highlights challenges in coordinating multiple agencies and balancing urban expansion with existing legal and planning frameworks. Observers note that for Nagpur to avoid repeating past delays, the NMC must integrate data-driven planning, enforce timelines, and engage with citizens effectively to resolve longstanding issues.
As the December 13 deadline approaches, attention remains on how the NMC will finalize the DP, address pending reservations, and provide clarity for landowners. The outcomes will determine the city’s ability to manage urban growth, deliver basic infrastructure, and balance the needs of residents with long-term planning objectives.
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