Construction activities across several projects in Nagpur have come to a standstill after the Nagpur Contractors Association (NCA) announced a work stoppage, citing non-payment of over ₹1,900 crore in pending dues.
Led by president Subodh Sarode, the association submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister’s office, stating that contractors are unable to continue operations as financial liabilities continue to mount.The association said that the issue is not limited to Nagpur, with contractors across Maharashtra taking similar action due to large-scale unpaid bills.
In Nagpur alone, the Public Works Department (PWD) has released only ₹465 crore out of ₹2,364 crore owed as of March 31, leaving a substantial backlog. Contractors alleged that despite fulfilling project commitments on time, delayed payments have severely impacted their ability to function, affecting labourers, engineers, and allied sectors.According to NCA, outstanding dues span multiple departments statewide, including roads and buildings, water resources, Jal Jeevan Mission, and urban development projects. The total pending amount across Maharashtra is estimated to be close to ₹1 lakh crore.
The association warned that unless funds are released promptly, the suspension of work will continue, further delaying public infrastructure projects.Nearly 3 lakh contractors and developers operate across the state, with an estimated 4 crore people dependent on the sector. The association has already submitted representations to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers and reiterated its concerns at a recent state-level meeting in Karjat.
It also highlighted that several new projects undertaken by local bodies and municipal corporations are facing delays due to lack of funds.
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