Varanasi Nagar Nigam: Key facts, projects and e-services

Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, also known as Banaras or Kashi, is considered one of the oldest cities in the world. It is a famous tourist destination, with a huge number of tourists and pilgrims. The authorities ensure proper facilities to cater to the city’s population and the growing number of travellers. The Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN) is the municipal authority responsible for providing various public services and developing the infrastructure of the city. The civic body has undertaken several projects and initiatives for transforming Varanasi into a sustainable city. Moreover, the Varanasi Municipal Corporation provides various e-services through its official portal. In this article, we share key details about the VNN and its services, initiatives and projects.

Table of Contents

Varanasi Nagar Nigam: Overview

The Varanasi Nagar Nigam (Municipal Corporation) is the governing body of Varanasi, comprising elected members, headed by a Mayor. The civic body is responsible for the planning, development and upkeep of the city. It was established on January 24, 1959, as a Nagar Mahapalika under the Municipal Corporation Act of 1959 and, in 1994, it was upgraded to Nagar Nigam. The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has 90 wards and covers 82 km².

Varanasi Nagar Nigam: Mission and objectives

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation aims to make Varanasi a self-reliant and sustainable city. It focuses on enhancing the quality of life by providing basic amenities to the citizens. It is responsible for undertaking various functions.

As provider

Potable water supply
Underground sewage system
All-weather roads
Sustainable practices, such as solid waste management
Health coverage for all
Primary education for the needy, with library facilities for all
Up-gradation of the amenities in the slums and alternative accommodation
A clean, green and pollution-free environment
Facilities for pilgrims and tourists

As facilitator

Support trade and commerce
Oversee health services
Promote higher education and research
Facilitate cultural activities, sports and games, recreation and entertainment facilities
Develop local industries, handicrafts and artefacts

Varanasi Nagar Nigam: Departments

Accounts: Responsible for managing the income and expenses of the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi and preparing the annual budget
Audit: Responsible for undertaking tasks, such as auditing the income and expenditure-related bills of municipal corporations
General engineering: Responsible for the maintenance and construction of roads, streets, footpaths, tracks, drains and other civic infrastructure
Streetlight: Responsible for ensuring proper lighting on the roads and intersections
Health: Responsible for the daily cleanliness, sanitation and garbage disposal
Revenue: Responsible for the allotment, maintenance, rent collection and management of properties, such as plots, markets, shops, kiosks and houses
Law: Responsible for handling legal/judicial matters of the municipal corporation
Foundation: Responsible for handling the departmental administrative activities, appointments, transfersand suspensions
Transport: Responsible for allocating/arranging vehicles to the officers of the Municipal Corporation of Varanasiand maintaining vehicles engaged in waste management
Horticulture: Responsible for managing 164 parks under the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi
Computer Cell: Responsible for handling computer-related tasks, such as salary, pension, house tax billing and collectionand communication of information
License: Responsible for issuing annual licenses for hand carts, rickshaws and trolleys within the city limits, annual licenses for inflammable category shops/establishments and licenses for wedding processions and liquor shops

Varanasi Nagar Nigam: E-services

Property/Water/Sewage Tax
Self-Assessment
Mutation Application
Assessment Objection
GIS Demand Notice Objection
Property Tax Calculation Method
View Demand Notice
Online Trade License
View Property Tax Bill
Self-Assessment Form

Nagar Nigam of Varanasi House Tax: How to pay property tax?

Visit the official website of Varanasi Nagar Nigam at https://nnvns.org.in/.
Select ‘Pay Property Tax’ under ‘E-services’.

Fill out the required details.
Click on ‘Search’. The tax dues will be displayed.
Proceed to complete the online payment.

Varanasi Nagar Nigam: Projects

Smart City

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation is participating in the second round of the Smart City competition to take forward the proposals prepared in Smart City Round 1. The VNN has invited suggestions from the citizens. The corporation aims to develop Varanasi into a sustainable global cultural hub and plans to enrich cultural heritage, education and economic development. The civic body focuses on sustainable development.

Swachh Bharat Mission

Under the Urban Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBM-U), launched on October 2, 2014, the aim is to

promote healthy sanitation practices and eliminate open defecation. The Varanasi Municipal Corporation is undertaking tasks, such as constructing restrooms, ensuring cleanliness near the ghats, collecting door-to-door garbage and creating awareness.

Namami Gange

The cleanliness around the ghats in Varanasi and River Ganga is the key focus of this initiative. Under the Namami Gange programme, the civic body plans to keep the bathing ghats in Varanasi in good condition and undertake related tasks.

Convention Centre

The Varanasi International Co-operation and Convention Centre (IBC), named Rudraksha, is the place for organising events and cultural programmes to promote social and cultural interactions. It is equipped with various facilities and comprises a main hall with a seating capacity of 1200, a high tower, gallery meeting rooms and parking facilities.

Hriday Yojna

The project preserves and maintains the heritage city, especially its old buildings and temples, and facilitates inclusive heritage-linked urban development. It focuses on using technologies for historic building retrofitting, making public spaces accessible, developing cultural spaces and delivering basic services.

Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM)

The JnNURM is an urban programme aimed at encouraging reforms and fast-tracking the planned development of identified cities. It focuses on making the cities self-sustaining and economically productive, efficient, equitable and responsive.

Institutional Development Program (IDP)

This initiative focuses on enhancing the efficiency of the civic body to improve the services. The key components of the program are:

Institutional strengthening and capacity building
Organisation review and HR management
Training and skills development
GIS and MIS development for water and sanitation assets
Tariff restructuring and financial management

GIS/MIS Project under IDP

The key objective of this project is to develop and implement a geographical information system to improve the efficiency of water and wastewater asset management in the city. It aims to set up an efficient management information system integrated with the GIS for planning, implementing and managing the development and maintenance activities and improving the quality of service delivery to the citizens.

Varanasi Nagar Nigam: Contact details

Address: 82JF+7X9, Kazzakpura, Ganga Nagar Colony, Aalampura, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221001

Phone: 09580817520/ 0542-2221709

Email: nagarnigamvns@gmail.com

Mayor: Ashok Kumar Tiwari

Municipal Commissioner: Akshat Verma, IAS.

Housing.com News Viewpoint

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation plays a crucial role in the planning and development of Varanasi, which aims to transform it into a smart and sustainable city. The official portal of VNN ensures access to citizen-centric services, eliminating the need to visit the local authority’s office. Some of the important services include payment of Varanasi Nagar Nigam house tax, self-assessment and online trade license.

FAQs

Who is the current Municipal Commissioner of Varanasi?

Akshat Verma, IAS, is the present Municipal Commissioner.

What is the old name of Varanasi city?

Varanasi was earlier known as Kashi.

What is the nickname of Varanasi?

Varanasi is known as the City of Lights.

How to view property tax bills in Varanasi?

Visit the official portal of Varanasi Nagar Nigam. Click on ‘View Property Tax Bill’ under ‘E-services’. Enter the house number and click on ‘Search’.

What are the key projects undertaken by the Varanasi Nagar Nigam?

Some of the key projects undertaken by the Varanasi Nagar Nigam include Smart City, JnNURM, IDP, Swachh Bharat Mission and Namami Gange.

How many wards are there in Varanasi Municipal Corporation?

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation has 90 wards in total.

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com

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Harini Balasubramanian

Harini is a content management professional with over 12 years of experience. She has contributed articles for various domains, including real estate, finance, health and travel insurance and e-governance. She has in-depth experience in writing well-researched articles on property trends, infrastructure, taxation, real estate projects and related topics. A Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, Harini prefers reading motivational books and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the real estate sector.