The Planning Department, through a Government Resolution dated June 5, 2026, has mandated that all new and revised project proposals must be evaluated against the department’s actual expenditure over the past three financial years. The move comes amid concerns that several departments have been undertaking projects far exceeding their budgetary capacity, leading to delays and rising costs.

Under the new norms, departments must assess the total financial liability of ongoing projects along with proposed new ones. If the combined cost remains within twice the average annual expenditure of the past three years, approvals can proceed through the existing process.

However, if the total liability exceeds this threshold, the proposal must be cleared by a High-Powered Committee on construction headed by the Chief Secretary before being sent for final approval. This additional layer of scrutiny is expected to limit indiscriminate project approvals and improve prioritization.

The guidelines apply to a wide range of public works including roads, highways, bridges, railways, airports, irrigation projects, water supply schemes, drainage systems, and government buildings.

The government has also directed departments to ensure that all proposals align with the long-term vision outlined in the “Developed Maharashtra 2047” document.

Impact on the Common Man

For citizens, the decision could bring mixed but largely positive outcomes. On one hand, stricter financial checks may slow down the announcement of new projects, especially in sectors like housing, roads, and urban infrastructure. This could delay some local development works.

On the other hand, the policy is expected to improve execution quality. By preventing over-commitment of funds, the government aims to complete ongoing projects faster and avoid cost escalations that ultimately burden taxpayers.

In practical terms, this could mean fewer stalled infrastructure projects, better road quality, more timely completion of government housing schemes, and improved delivery of basic services like water supply and drainage.

Experts say the move signals a shift from “announcement-driven governance” to “execution-focused governance,” which could enhance long-term infrastructure reliability across the state.

The resolution has been issued with concurrence from the Finance Department and is now in effect across all administrative departments.

Also Read: Maharashtra Forms Panel to Explore Housing Options for Mumbai Mill Workers After Fresh Push

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Faced with this embarrassing reality, the state government has been left with no option but to bend its own rules and grant a one-time relaxation to promote Shri Arvind B. Shinde, despite the GR itself stating clearly that Shinde does not possess a degree from a recognised university.

What the Government Resolution Reveals

The GR summarises the situation starkly:

• Under the NMMC Service Rules, 2021, the post of Additional City Engineer (Civil) is 100% promotion-based.
• Eligibility requires:
  1. A civil engineering degree from a recognised university, and
  2. Three years of service as Executive Engineer (Civil).

However, the GR explicitly says that none of NMMC’s Executive Engineers qualify because none of them hold a recognised engineering degree. This has caused a “long-standing vacancy” and a “functional bottleneck” in the Corporation.

Govt Forced to Break Its Own Rule

To keep work moving and avoid administrative paralysis, NMMC passed a resolution seeking special relaxation so that the seniormost Executive Engineer, Arvind Shinde, could be promoted despite missing the mandatory qualification.

The state government has now approved this exception, stating:

• The relaxation is granted only for Shinde,
• Only until he retires, and
• Only to ensure someone is available to handle the duties of Additional City Engineer.

This means the government is overriding the statutory qualification requirement, solely because NMMC does not have even one eligible engineer with the required degree.

A Major Blow to NMMC’s Claims of Professional Excellence

Navi Mumbai frequently projects itself as a planned, world-class city within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). But the GR exposes a troubling contradiction:

A municipal corporation handling billions of rupees in infrastructure works does not have a single Executive Engineer with a degree from a government-recognised university.

The fact that Maharashtra had to officially amend rules just to fill one senior engineering post raises deeper concerns about:

• Recruitment standards
• Qualification verification
• Administrative oversight
• The long-term structural health of NMMC’s engineering departments

The Larger Question

If the city’s engineering leadership itself lacks basic recognised qualifications, what does this mean for the quality, safety, and oversight of public works executed within Navi Mumbai?

This GR does not simply highlight a vacancy — it exposes a structural failure that deserves public scrutiny

Also Read: Maharashtra Government Revises Urban Tribal Settlement Improvement Scheme

The post Rule Says Only Engineer From Recognised University Can be Navi Mumbai’s Additional City Engineer, Govt Finds None, Tweaks Rule To Fill Post appeared first on Square Feat India.