365 Android tablets proposed for corporators and officials
Nagpur: As the city confronts a looming water crisis triggered by deficient rainfall — with reservoir levels dropping sharply and the civic administration scrambling to conserve supplies — Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) plans to spend Rs 1.48 crore on purchasing 365 Android tablets for its corporators and officials. The proposal estimates the total expenditure at Rs 1.48 crore, including taxes, with each tablet costing Rs 38,999. The proposal is slated for approval at the meeting scheduled for Friday. The procurement will be carried out through e-tendering.
The move has reignited debate over the civic body’s spending priorities, especially since an earlier attempt to distribute tablets reportedly ended with most devices either failing or lying unused. The agenda for Standing Committee meeting was issued on Tuesday.
As per the proposal, the tablets — fitted with digital pens — will be provided to the mayor, deputy mayor, Standing Committee chairperson, ruling and opposition leaders, corporators across parties, and municipal officials such as department heads, executive engineers and junior engineers. The information technology department has justified the purchase by pointing to the growing reliance on the work module, e-office system, MIS portal, video conferencing and other technical software, all of which require such devices for smooth online operations. The municipal house went on to approve the procurement proposal.
The civic body has also pointed to the discontinuation of its earlier laptop supply service as a reason for switching to tablets.