Indore Municipal Corporation
The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) is the primary civic body administering Indore, the largest city and commercial hub of Madhya Pradesh, India. Established initially as a municipality in 1870 to address unplanned urban growth, it transitioned to India's first city with an elected municipal government in 1912 and was formally constituted as a municipal corporation in 1956 upon Indore's integration into Madhya Pradesh.[1][1][1]
IMC governs a municipal area of 276 square kilometers, serving a population of 3,111,442 as per the 2011 census, through 85 wards organized into 22 zones and 13 specialized departments handling functions such as water supply, sanitation, public health, education, and infrastructure maintenance.[1][1][1]
The corporation is led by an elected mayor and council of ward representatives, with executive administration directed by a municipal commissioner appointed by the state government, making it the highest-revenue-generating municipal entity in Madhya Pradesh.[1][1][1]
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, IMC has pioneered effective solid waste management, achieving source segregation, processing 550 tonnes of wet waste daily via Asia's largest bio-CNG plant, and fostering public-private partnerships that propelled Indore to the rank of India's cleanest city for eight consecutive years in the Swachh Survekshan surveys from 2017 to 2025.[2][3][4]
Further distinctions include Water Plus certification for sustainable sanitation and selection as one of India's initial 20 smart cities, emphasizing integrated urban renewal and technology-driven governance.[2][2]
Notwithstanding these successes, IMC has faced scrutiny over operational lapses, including a 2025 property tax survey sparking resident disputes and suspensions, as well as periodic allegations of corruption and mismanagement in tax hikes and civic enforcement.[5][6]