Raipur Municipal Corporation, or RMC, is the civic body responsible for the administration and development of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh, India. Established on 17 May 1867 as the Raipur Municipal Committee during British rule, it was later upgraded to a Municipal Corporation in 1973.
This civic administrative body administers the city's cleanliness and other public services like public health, clean streets and parks. The corporation ranked seventh in the Municipal Performance Index 2020 of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).[2]
History
British Raj
The Raipur Municipal Corporation originated as the Raipur Municipal Committee during British rule in India. Established in the late 19th century, its primary purpose was to ensure basic civic amenities in a rapidly growing urban settlement. The municipal committee was initially tasked with rudimentary responsibilities such as sanitation, road maintenance, and street lighting.
During this period, the committee operated under the Central Provinces and Berar administration, reflecting the administrative structures imposed by the British. Members were often nominated by the colonial administration, with only a small fraction being elected by property-owning residents under restrictive franchise rules. These elections were largely symbolic, with real power concentrated in the hands of the British-appointed officials.
Key initiatives included the establishment of water supply systems, waste disposal methods, and rudimentary public health facilities to cater to the growing population.
Post-Independence of India
As a part of Madhya Pradesh
After India gained independence in 1947, the municipal administration saw significant reforms. In 1956, with the reorganization of states, Raipur became part of the newly formed Madhya Pradesh state. This period marked the gradual expansion of the municipal body's responsibilities, including urban planning, housing, and infrastructure development.
The 1960s and 1970s were transformative years for the municipal administration. In 1973, the municipal committee was upgraded to a Municipal Corporation, a reflection of Raipur's growing significance and population by the cabinet of Arjun Singh. in 1973, city was divided into 40 wards. This transition allowed the civic body to expand its jurisdiction and take on larger development projects.
After formation of Chhattisgarh
A defining moment in RMC's history came in 2000 when Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh, and Raipur was declared the capital of the new state. This change elevated the city's profile and brought about rapid urbanization. To cope with the growing administrative and developmental demands of a state capital, the corporation underwent structural and operational reforms.
In the 21st century, the Raipur Municipal Corporation embraced modernization and digital governance. With the introduction of the Smart City Mission in 2015, Raipur was selected as one of the cities for transformation into a smart city. The municipal corporation implemented projects aimed at improving urban mobility, traffic management, and environmental sustainability.
In recent years, RMC has focused on citizen-centric initiatives, such as online tax payment systems, e-governance platforms, and grievance redressal mechanisms. These efforts aim to enhance transparency and efficiency in municipal operations.
Administration
RMC is headed by a mayor (head of Nigam) elected by the people and an IAS officer, who serves as municipal commissioner, elected by the state's chief minister. Like other elections in India, in RMC the Parsahads (elected reprensentatives of wards) form the Nigam, and the elected leader of the majority party becomes mayor.
The initial decades of RMC elections saw national parties like the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) competing for control. The Congress, with its historical influence in central India, often dominated local elections during this period. Initially, citizens directly elected the mayor. This allowed the electorate to choose a leader they felt would best represent Raipur's interests till 1973 to 2015. After 2015, the system changed, and councilors elect the mayor. This aligns with the practice in many other municipal corporations across India but the direct election of mayor re-continued in 2025 elections.
The first elections for the 40 wards of the Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) were held in 1973, with Swaroop Chand Jain of the Indian National Congress (INC) becoming the city's mayor. Between 1985 and 1995, the municipal corporation was administered by a district magistrate or administrator appointed by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, following a delimitation process. In 1995, the number of wards was increased to 60 by Digvijay Singh ministry, and elections were held, with Balbeer S. Juneja elected as the mayor.
Following the passing of the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000, Raipur became part of the newly formed state of Chhattisgarh and was designated the largest municipal corporation in the state. Tarun Prasad Chatterjee was the first mayor of Raipur after Chhattisgarh's formation. In 2004, ahead of the local elections, the Raman Singh ministry approved the creation of seven additional wards, raising the total from 63 to 70. The first local body elections in the new state were held in 2004, where Sunil Kumar Soni of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who is currently the Member of Legislative Assembly for Raipur South, became the first non-Congress mayor of the city. By 2014, the RMC had created four more wards, leading to the current structure of 70 wards.
Elections for the Raipur Municipal Corporation were held in 2019–20, in which the Indian National Congress (INC) emerged victorious, and Aijaz Dhebar became the mayor. However, due to the reservation and prolonged delimitation processes, local body elections were not conducted after the completion of the previous tenure, leading to the dissolution of the RMC. For the first time in 30 years, the collector was re-assigned as the administrator of RMC.
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