Navi Mumbai Municipal Services Disrupted Amid Election Preparations and Staff Shortage
Navi Mumbai, 9th November 2024: The ongoing preparations for the 2024 assembly elections have caused significant disruption to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), as over 1,200 employees have been reassigned to election duties. This has created a noticeable shortage in several municipal departments, affecting the delivery of routine administrative services.
Staff from CIDCO, MIDC, and NMMC have been assigned critical election-related roles, such as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), polling officers, and centre presidents. This has left various municipal offices understaffed, especially in Thane district, where election responsibilities are concentrated, resulting in delays and unaddressed queries at municipal counters.
For the last two months, NMMC employees have been posted to election offices in areas like Airoli and Belapur, leading to frustration among residents. One resident shared, “I went to the office for a simple inquiry, only to find that everyone was on election duty, and no one could say when they’d be back.”
Additionally, some employees not directly involved in election tasks have taken advantage of the situation, reportedly leaving their posts early or after lunch, further slowing down municipal operations and impacting vital public services.
As election duties intensify, NMMC officials are struggling to balance administrative responsibilities with electoral commitments. Until staff return to their regular roles, residents are left facing long wait times and repeated trips to access essential services.
