RAIPUR: The Urban Administration and Development Department, Government of Chhattisgarh has issued a notification appointing District Collectors as administrators in 10 municipal corporations across the state, including Raipur. The decision follows the expiry of the elected councils' tenure in these municipal bodies.

The notification, released on December 31, 2024, from the Ministry of Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur, empowers the appointed District Collectors to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the respective municipal councils until new elections are held. As per the schedule outlined in the notification, on January 3, 2025, the District Collector will assume charge in Municipal Corporation Rajnandgaon, on January 4, 2025, administrators will take over in Municipal Corporations Bilaspur and Jagdalpur, and on January 6, 2025 Municipal Corporations Raipur, Dhamtari, Durg, Raigarh, and Chirmiri will see their respective District Collectors stepping in as administrators.

Similarly on January 8, 2025, the District Collector will assume administrative responsibilities in Municipal Corporation Ambikapur, and January 10, 2025 Municipal Corporation Korba will transition to administrative oversight by its District Collector. The move aims to ensure the smooth functioning of municipal services and governance in the absence of elected representatives. The three-tier Panchayat polls are scheduled in the state.