Latest news with #VadodaraMunicipalCorporation
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Fake birth certificate racket surfaces in Aadhaar drive
Vadodara: Since May, Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials involved in Aadhaar registrations have been on high alert due to a rise in fake birth certificates. Of the nine such cases detected so far, eight involved parents seeking Aadhaar cards for their children. Although VMC officials verify all documents submitted for Aadhaar, fake birth certificates began surfacing only recently. In most cases, parents said they needed Aadhaar cards for school admissions. Whenever a certificate was found to be fake, officials at the Aadhaar centre escalated the matter to higher authorities, who questioned the person involved before handing over the case to the police. A common thread in all cases was schools insisting on Aadhaar cards and birth certificates for generating APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) IDs. An official said many of the children were born outside Vadodara or in other states. "Parents were reluctant to travel to those places to get genuine birth certificates. Instead, they turned to touts who promised to arrange them. It's possible the parents were unaware the documents were fake, but that's now under police investigation," the official added. Most forged certificates had identical formats, differing only in names, birthdates, and other personal details. A cursory glance was often enough to spot the forgeries, especially since their QR codes led nowhere when scanned. The fake certificates were typically procured from small shopkeepers, photocopy shops, or similar outlets. While the going rate was Rs 500, in a recent July 12 case from Warasiya, a woman paid Rs 2,200 for one. VMC follows a three-layered verification system for Aadhaar document checks. Suspect documents flagged at Aadhaar centres go to higher officials and then to the issuing department for final verification.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
24 contractors penalized 16 lakh for shoddy roads
Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has imposed fines totalling Rs 15.95 lakh on 24 contractors for substandard work that led to road damage during the ongoing monsoon season. Most of these contractors had undertaken projects involving trench digging on city roads. According to civic officials, improper filling and compaction of trenches dug for water pipelines, sewage lines, and stormwater drains caused the roads to cave in after the rains. In many cases, the roads were resurfaced without allowing proper curing of the trenches, leading to settlement and collapse during heavy rainfall. The civic body issued notices to 10 contractors responsible for 27 water supply pipeline works across the city. Collectively, they have been fined Rs 7.35 lakh. Eight roads laid by eight different contractors were found to be of poor quality, resulting in fines totalling Rs 3.85 lakh. Additionally, six contractors involved in laying five sewage lines and two stormwater drains were fined Rs 4.75 lakh. Apart from paying the fines, all contractors have been instructed to restore the damaged roads. In locations where work related to other civic projects was found to be faulty, contractors have been asked to rectify the issues without delay.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Green bonds, greener cities: Financing tomorrow's infrastructure today– Vadodara leads the way
India's cities are growing at an unprecedented pace. By 2030, urban areas will be home to over 600 million people and contribute nearly 75% of the country's GDP. Yet, despite their economic significance, most Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) struggle to fund infrastructure that is both inclusive and environmentally sustainable. One of the core challenges lies in how these ULBs currently raise and manage funds. Despite their importance, ULBs contribute just 0.6% to India's GDP, a figure far below the global norm. Without sufficient revenue streams or financial credibility, their ability to attract private or institutional investment remains severely limited. Recent conversations in financial and policy circles, particularly around municipal reform, are beginning to address this gap. A growing consensus is emerging: cities must embrace structured fiscal planning, climate-conscious accounting, and investor-grade transparency to tap into evolving capital markets. Empowering Cities: Launch of The Green Book | SEBI Event, Thiruvananthapuram In a bold departure from traditional models, Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) issued Asia's first globally certified Green Municipal Bond, raising ₹100 crore for environmentally aligned water and sanitation projects. Certified under the Climate Bonds Standard and oversubscribed nearly 14.6 times, the bond sets a new benchmark for urban climate finance in India. Building market-ready municipalities To close the disparity in how ULBs contribute to the national GDP, municipalities must prioritize credible accounting, climate-aligned disclosures, and surplus management as prerequisites for sustainable borrowing. In FY 2023-24, VMC reported a revenue surplus of ₹163.74 crore and secured an AA+ (Stable) credit rating. This financial robustness, paired with transparent disclosures and structured budget planning, helped bolster investor confidence. A funding mix of 65% from state support and 24% from internal resources also illustrates a gradual but crucial shift away from grant dependence. Catalysing a national dialogue The recent discourse on strengthening municipal finance gained fresh momentum through the Municipal Bond Outreach Programme, conducted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) from June 30 to July 1, 2025, at Thiruvananthapuram. The initiative brought together key stakeholders, including city officials, regulators, credit agencies, and financial institutions, to chart a roadmap for market-based urban finance. Designed to build institutional capacity and enhance market readiness, the programme featured focused sessions on structuring bond issuances, regulatory compliance, credit ratings, and continuous disclosures. Participants engaged with intermediaries and case studies to gain practical insights into accessing capital markets. A key highlight of the event was the official launch of 'The Green Book – On Climate Finance & Green Municipal Bonds' by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation. The launch was led by senior members of VMC, including the Hon'ble Mayor, Municipal Commissioner, Deputy Mayor and Chairman during a dedicated session celebrating Vadodara's pioneering role in the municipal bond ecosystem. The spotlight on VMC highlighted how fiscal transparency, strong governance, and investor engagement are essential to building financially empowered, market-ready cities. Reimagining urban finance: Beyond bonds While green municipal bonds have emerged as a transformative tool for climate-aligned infrastructure financing, Vadodara's experience signals the need for a broader financial vision. 'The Green Book – On Climate Finance & Green Municipal Bonds' report highlights several alternative and complementary financing avenues that Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) can leverage to strengthen fiscal autonomy and unlock capital for urban development.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Woman caught with forged birth certificate at VMC office
Vadodara: Yet another fake birth certificate was detected by Aadhaar card centre officials of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). An offence in connection with the forged certificate was registered at the Warasiya police station on Friday night. The forgery came to light when a woman from the Warasiya area visited the Aadhaar card centre at the ward number 4 office of the civic body. The official verifying her documents grew suspicious and forwarded an image of the certificate to assistant municipal commissioner (South Zone) and head of Aadhaar operations, Shamik Joshi. Although the certificate appeared fake at first glance, it was sent for detailed verification. Once confirmed to be forged, the woman, identified as Rekha Waghela, was questioned. She told officials that she had obtained the certificate through a man named Sumit Lalitkumar, who runs a shop in the Khodiyarnagar area of the city. He had charged her Rs 2,200 for it. Rekha explained that her original documents were lost when their house was inundated during last year's floods. She claimed to have approached the VMC to obtain a new birth certificate but was denied. When her daughter's school recently asked for a birth certificate and Aadhaar card, she turned to Sumit for help. Following the confirmation of the forgery, Joshi filed a police complaint at the Warasiya police station.
Mint
7 days ago
- Mint
Vadodara Bridge collapse: Death toll rises to 13, ‘exact reason' for accident to be probed
Death toll in the Vadodara Bridge collapse incident rose to 13, as two more bodies recovered from the site, Information Department, Vadodara, informed. A slab of the Gambhira bridge, located on Mahisagar river which connects central Gujarat to the Saurashtra region of the state, collapsed, due to which several vehicles fell into the river. The accident occurred on Wednesday morning. The bridge was located near Padra town in the district. Superintendent of Police (Vadodara rural) Rohan Anand said informed about 10 to 15 metres long slab of the bridge collapsed at around 7.30 am. Five vehicles -- two trucks, two vans and an autorickshaw -- fell into the river after the bridge collapsed. Two other vehicles that came dangerously close to falling were dragged away to a safer location, the collector said. A total of 13 persons died in the bridge collapse included a child, Padra police inspector Vijay Charan said. While Three persons on a two-wheeler, which fell into the river, managed to swim to safety. Five out of the nine rescued persons suffered injuries and were undergoing treatment at the SSG Hospital in Vadodara, but none of the injured persons are in a critical condition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed grief over the tragedy and announced ex gratia of ₹ 2 lakh and ₹ 4 lakh, respectively, to the next of kin of each deceased, and ₹ 50,000 as compensation to the injured. In a post on X, Patel said teams of the state roads and buildings department and private engineers specialising in bridge construction have been instructed to immediately reach the spot and conduct a preliminary investigation into the causes of the collapse and other technical matters, and submit a report. "The fire brigade team of the local municipality and Vadodara Municipal Corporation are working with boats and swimmers at the accident site as part of the rescue and relief operations. The NDRF team has also reached the scene and joined the rescue operation," the CM said. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM," the PMO said on X Gujarat minister Rushikesh Patel said the bridge was constructed in 1985, and its maintenance was carried out periodically as and when required. The exact reason behind the incident will be probed, he said. The nearly 900-metre-long Gambhira bridge has 23 piers and connects Vadodara and Anand districts of Gujarat. It was inaugurated in 1985.
