Pune: PMC Plans Decentralisation of Maintenance Duties to Regional Ward Offices for Faster Local Services
Pune, 30th July 2025: In a move aimed at reducing pressure on core departments and improving service delivery, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to decentralise the responsibilities of maintenance and repair works to its regional ward offices. The proposal, currently under serious consideration, will shift the management of roads, sewage lines, stormwater drains, and municipal buildings to local administrative units. A final decision is expected next week.
PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has directed core departments to shift their focus toward new capital works, while regional ward offices take over the execution of routine maintenance. At present, PMC Departments are burdened with a large share of maintenance duties, and the lack of clear task distribution between them and the 15 regional ward offices has often resulted in delayed civic services.
The issue was discussed in detail during a recent Standing Committee meeting, where it was suggested that regional offices be granted sufficient funds, authority, and accountability based on the nature of the works. Notably, roads with a width of less than 12 meters fall under the jurisdiction of regional ward offices, but delays in repair and maintenance persist due to inadequate budgets. Patchwork solutions are often used to manage time, leading to public inconvenience.
Similar delays are seen in sewage and waste management systems. In a recent review meeting with department heads, Commissioner Ram stressed the need to define clear responsibilities, allocate manpower, and streamline fund distribution for each department.
The decentralisation plan is expected to address issues more swiftly at the ward level. Discussions are ongoing at the level of Additional Commissioners to finalise the scope of work, manpower redistribution, and budget segmentation. PMC officials confirmed that the Commissioner will take the final call after these consultations conclude.
