Aurangabad Corporators Performance Review: What Changed in Past 7 Years for Aurangabad Elections
The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), now known as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Municipal Corporation (CSMC), has seen significant developments over the past seven years since the 2015 elections. Elected on April 23, 2015, the 113 corporators representing various wards have overseen urban transformation amid challenges like infrastructure upgrades and smart city initiatives. As the city gears up for upcoming elections, this review examines key changes in governance, projects, and public services.
Election Background and Corporator Composition
In the 2015 municipal elections, Aurangabad elected 113 corporators across wards from Harsool to Vedant Nagar. Prominent names included Bamne from Ward 1 (Harsool), Shinde Raju Ramrao from Ward 38 (MIDC Chikalthana), and Kharat Surekha Goutam from Ward 39 (Aayodhya Nagar). Other notable corporators were Makrand Madhavrao Kulkarni (Ward 40, Ganesh Nagar), Khan Irshad Ibrahim (Ward 41, Rahemaniya Colony), and Khatija Qureshi (Ward 45, Kaisar Colony). This diverse group represented neighborhoods like Kotwalpura, Nageshwar Wadi, Kabir Nagar, and more, with contact details made public for accessibility.
The corporators’ tenure, spanning roughly from 2015 to 2022, aligned with Maharashtra’s municipal election cycles, though delays due to administrative and legal issues extended their influence. Recent lists show continuity in some areas, with figures like Jyoti Jayesh Abhang (Chetna Nagar), Rajgaurav Haridas Wankhede (Wankhede Nagar), and Rojatkar Pushpa Uttamrao (Yadaw Nagar) maintaining presence. Wards such as Dnyaneshwar Colony (Jagtap Kamalakar Shyamrao), Sanjay Nagar (Chavan Sunita Ramrao), and Ramnagar (Bhagwan Devidas Ghadmode) highlight ongoing representation.
Infrastructure and Smart City Progress
One of the standout achievements has been the push towards smart city status. In 2019, Municipal Commissioner Nipun Vinayak, CEO of Aurangabad Smart City Development Corporation Ltd (ASCDCL), received an award from the Smart Cities Council for exemplary project execution. This recognition underscored efforts in integrating technology for urban management, including improved traffic systems, waste management, and public surveillance in areas like Chikalthana, Raj Nagar, and Ulkanagari.
Corporators facilitated projects addressing long-standing issues. For instance, wards like Kamgar Colony (Sohel Shakil Shaikh) and Vitthal Nagar (Gangve Manoj Bansilal) saw enhancements in water supply and road networks. Developments in Kanchanwadi and Nakshtrawadi (Vimal Janardhan Kamble) included better drainage, reducing monsoon flooding. These initiatives marked a shift from basic maintenance to sustainable infrastructure, with visible changes in connectivity between CIDCO colonies and older city pockets like Shivaji Nagar (Rajendra Himmatrao Janjal).
Public Services and Community Engagement
Over seven years, corporators focused on health, education, and sanitation. Neighborhoods such as Mayurban Colony (Smita Digambar Ghogre) and Priyadarshini Nagar (Salima Babubhai Qureshi) benefited from upgraded community centers and waste segregation drives. In Bansilal Nagar-Banewadi (Siddhant Sanjan Shirsat) and Rahul Nagar (Abdul M. Navid), efforts curbed illegal encroachments, improving open spaces.
Challenges persisted, including legal disputes like the 2019 Supreme Court case involving the AMC commissioner and a local resident, which highlighted tensions over property and enforcement. Despite this, corporators like Thorat Dilip Gangadhar (Ulkanagari) and Archana Shailendra Nilkanth (Jay Vishwabharti Colony) engaged communities through ward sabhas, addressing grievances on power supply and street lighting.
Political Shifts and Election Readiness
The period saw political realignments, with parties leveraging development records for re-election bids. Incumbents like Jadhav Bansi Gyanu, Waghmare Rupchand Laxman, and Shobha Gurulingappa Burande positioned themselves on tangible outcomes. Newer faces in lists, such as Jyoti Sunil Nade (Chikalthana) and Salve Anita Mohan (Raj Nagar-Mukund Nagar), reflect evolving representation.
As elections approach, voters assess changes: smarter governance in MIDC areas, resilient infrastructure post-pandemic, and inclusive policies for minorities in colonies like Kabra Nagar (Chakranarayan Seema). While progress is evident, demands for faster project completion and transparency remain.
Key Metrics of Change
- Smart City Milestones: Awards and tech integrations transformed urban services.
- Infrastructure: Roads, water, and drainage improved in 70+ wards.
- Community Focus: Health camps and sanitation drives in peripheral areas.
- Challenges: Legal hurdles and delays tested governance resilience.
The past seven years under these corporators have repositioned Aurangabad as a modern urban hub. With elections on the horizon, their legacy of mixed successes will shape voter choices, emphasizing accountability and forward momentum. Continued focus on equitable growth across all 113 wards will define the next term.
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