NAGPUR: The demand for high-rise buildings in Nagpur is reaching new heights, with 296 building plans of 15 metres and above approved by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation‘s (NMC) town planning department in the ongoing financial year. This marks a steady rise from 202 approvals in 2023-24, while 97 proposals were approved in 2022-23.
The surge in vertical construction is reshaping the city’s skyline, driven by urban expansion, redevelopment projects, and increased housing demand.
Several well-established areas, including Itwari, Mahal, Gandhibagh, Dhantoli, and Sitabuldi, are seeing old structures being replaced with taller buildings as part of modernisation efforts. Meanwhile, newer localities on the outskirts, such as Manewada, Besa, Narsala, and Wathoda, are rapidly developing with high-rise residential and commercial projects. Prime locations like Ramdaspeth, Dharampeth, Bajaj Nagar, and Shankar Nagar continue to attract large-scale developments, reflecting the growing preference for high-rise living.
According to a senior NMC official, majority of applicants are seeking fire safety clearances for residential buildings, followed by mixed-use and commercial properties. A close look at sanctioned plans by NMC’s town planning department revealed that localities such as Ambazari Hilltop Layout, Pandhrabodi, Lendra, and Ajni have emerged as high-rise hotspots, while Jaripatka, Sakkardara, Parsodi, and Chichbhavan are experiencing increasing vertical expansion due to land constraints.
Nagpur’s transformation into a high-rise city is particularly evident in areas once known for sprawling independent bungalows. Localities such as Civil Lines, Shivaji Nagar, Lendra, Khamla, Ambazari Hill Top, Ram Nagar, Futala (Bharat Nagar), Shankar Nagar, and Ramdaspeth, which were historically lined with single-family homes, are now welcoming multi-storey residential and commercial complexes.
In Civil Lines, applications for projects like the Balasaheb Tirpude Marg development mark a shift towards high-density housing. Similarly, Shivaji Nagar has at least two high-rise proposals, including the Shiv Shanti Apartment project on Hill Road, signalling the increasing adoption of apartment living. Lendra, Khare Town, and Dharampeth have also seen multiple proposals, indicating a rapid transformation from bungalows to modern housing complexes.
Areas such as Khamla, Pande Layout, and Jagruti Gruh Nirman Sahkari Sanstha Ltd have emerged as key high-rise zones. Meanwhile, Ambazari Hill Top and Ram Nagar are seeing projects such as the Ambazari Accommodation Scheme and expansions in Shraddhanandpeth, reflecting an uptick in premium residential buildings. Futala (Bharat Nagar), Sahastrabudhe Layout, and Shankar Nagar have also witnessed increasing high-rise construction, replacing older, low-rise structures.
While bungalow-heavy areas are embracing high-rises, Nagpur’s older city areas like Bajeria, Itwari, and Mahal are also undergoing a vertical transformation. Though specific applications for Bajeria were not found in the latest approvals, other heritage areas like Itwari and Mahal are seeing high-rise developments, particularly near Gandhibagh, Bagadganj, and Bhaldarpura. These areas, once filled with small independent homes and dense commercial streets, are now witnessing mixed-use high-rises, combining residential and business spaces. In Mahal, projects near Gandhibagh and Pardi point to a trend where low-rise buildings are being replaced with taller structures.
Fire NOCs
The NMC fire and emergency services department, which plays a crucial role in regulating high-rise developments, has issued 877 provisional no-objection certificates (NOCs) for structures, mainly high-rise buildings, between April 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025, generating revenue of Rs16.41 crore. This is a significant increase compared to 518 NOCs issued in the same period in 2023-24, which earned slightly higher revenue of Rs16.92 crore.
