Navi Mumbai: In a bid to enhance transparency and efficiency in public dealings, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has implemented fixed meeting hours for citizens at its headquarters and regional offices. As per a directive issued by Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde, officials will be available to meet visitors from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on designated days. This initiative aims to streamline interactions, address grievances more effectively, and ensure that citizens receive timely responses from municipal authorities.
According to the NMMC administration, this initiative aims to create a structured approach for addressing public grievances, requests, and queries regarding government schemes. The decision aligns with the state government’s directive issued on May 27, 2013, which emphasized organized public interactions within municipal offices.
To ensure smooth implementation, officials have been instructed to refrain from scheduling internal meetings during these hours. Regional office officials will also allocate specific time slots for citizen meetings—preferably in the afternoon—and display their field visit schedules on notice boards for transparency.
For better visitor management, entry to the NMMC headquarters will be permitted only through Main Gate No. 1 after 2:00 PM. Security personnel will issue visitor passes based on departmental approvals.
Dr. Shinde emphasized that this structured system is designed to save citizens’ time, minimize inconvenience, and improve administrative efficiency. The directive will be strictly enforced across all NMMC offices.
Concerns Over Implementation
Meanwhile, the Alert Citizen Forum has raised concerns about the effectiveness of these designated hours, alleging that officials are either unavailable or engaged in other meetings during the allotted time. In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the forum stated that many visitors, some traveling from distant locations, are unable to meet the concerned officials.
“NMMC’s Commissioner’s office has set citizen visiting hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. However, it is often observed that officials are unavailable, citing engagements at the Ministry, CIDCO meetings, or virtual conferences with state officials. This leaves citizens waiting indefinitely or unable to meet the concerned officer, which is a direct violation of their fundamental rights,” stated Sudhir Dani, founder of the Alert Citizen Forum, in his letter to the Chief Minister.
The forum has urged the government to ensure strict adherence to the designated hours and hold officials accountable for non-compliance.
