Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis laid the foundation stone for key infrastructure projects in the Hudkeshwar-Narsala region, marking the beginning of a sewage line, sewage treatment plant, and road development initiative worth Rs 1.5 billion. Speaking at the event, Fadnavis highlighted the region’s rapid urban expansion, noting the need for new infrastructure to meet rising demands. In the last decade, the Nagpur metropolis and the adjacent Hudkeshwar-Narsala area have witnessed significant growth. Infrastructure such as roads and drinking water facilities had to be developed from scratch. As chief minister, I prioritised resolving the water issues here, and now we aim to further strengthen the area’s infrastructure,” he said. The event marked the launch of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Rs 1.15 billion sewage line and treatment plant under the Centre’s Amrit Yojana 2.0, along with a Rs 350 million road project for the Hudkeshwar-Narsala area in the Kamthi constituency. The ceremony was attended by local leaders, including MLAs Chandrasekhar Bawankule and Tekchand Savarkar, NMC Commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari, and former MLA Sudhakar Kohle. Fadnavis emphasised the importance of proper sewage infrastructure, stating, “The new sewage treatment plant will address environmental, health, and hygiene challenges. Currently, the Pohra River, which flows through this area, has become a drain. With the project’s completion, the river will be restored to its clean state. Taking a dig at the previous Uddhav Thackeray government, Fadnavis claimed that no funds had been allocated for such projects in recent years. “After our government assumed office, we fast-tracked these initiatives to recover lost time and allocated the necessary funds,” he said. The sewage treatment project falls under the Central Government’s Amrit Yojana 2.0, designed to improve urban infrastructure. The funding model includes a 25% contribution each from the Centre and the state, with NMC covering the remaining 50%. The total expenditure sanctioned for the larger wastewater collection system for Nagpur’s South Sewerage Zone, including Hudkeshwar and Narsala, amounts to Rs 9.57 billion.