AFD submits DPR of Nag riverfront project

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s ambitious Nag river rejuvenation plan received a boost on Thursday as the Agence Française deDéveloppement (AFD) — French Development Agency — has completed draft of riverfront development plan of Nag river and submitted the DPR of Rs1,600 crore to municipal commissioner Abhijeet Bangar.
Later, AFD will also provide funds for the plan. “The French team was campaigning in city for the last four days and presented a seminar on riverfront development plan. “The NMC had prepared a concept plan of the project and after several visits and inspecting the river, the France agency prepared a draft detailed project report of Nag riverfront development project,” a senior official from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation told TOI.

Under the riverfront development project, both sides of Nagpur river will be beautified and areas near the river as tourist and recreational places. Spots like temples, gardens etc situated on the river’s banks will also be re-developed.

“Now, AFD will finance the project as it has already prepared the DPR,” said the officer.

TOI was the first to report on October 29 about AFD preparing DPR of the plan and also funding it. AFD is likely to provide Rs1,054.58 crore (140 million Euros) of total estimated project cost of Rs1,600 crore. The AFD has also provided technical support for preparing master plan of the project.

In August this year, the NMC’s Nag pollution abatement plan too received a boost after Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had agreed to fund 85% of the Rs1,252.33 crore project.