Pune: Ruling–Opposition Unite to Demand Scrapping of PMC Finance Committee in First General Body Meeting

Pune, 19th February 2026: In an unusual display of bipartisan consensus, corporators from both the treasury benches and the opposition in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Thursday called for the dissolution of the civic body’s Finance Committee, alleging that its functioning has hampered the pace of development works across the city.

The demand was raised during the first general body meeting convened after the February 18 municipal elections. Members argued that the committee, constituted during the administrator’s tenure, has become redundant and is now contributing to procedural delays rather than strengthening financial oversight.

Initiating the discussion, corporator Prithviraj Sutar sought clarity on the mandate and structure of the Finance Committee, questioning whether its role during the administrator period was to accelerate or stall civic projects. He asked the administration to place detailed information before the House.

Corporator Dheeraj Ghate said the committee was formed during the COVID-19 pandemic when enhanced financial scrutiny was necessary. “At that time, extraordinary circumstances justified such a mechanism. But now there is no need for it. The committee should be dissolved,” he asserted.

Baburao Chandere maintained that the powers of financial decision-making are already vested in the Standing Committee and the General Body, making the Finance Committee superfluous. Arvind Shinde echoed similar concerns, alleging that the additional layer of scrutiny was delaying key development projects.

Responding to the criticism, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram defended the committee’s role, stating that it enables a detailed examination of proposals before they are placed before the Standing Committee. He noted that such scrutiny helps assess whether projects should proceed and ensures financial prudence.

“The Standing Committee often does not have the opportunity to examine proposals in depth. The Finance Committee facilitates that process,” he said.

However, the Commissioner added that the administration would review the matter and make necessary corrections if it is established that the committee is causing delays in development works.

With both ruling and opposition corporators aligned on the issue, the demand for scrapping the Finance Committee is expected to intensify in the coming days. The development signals a broader push within the civic body for administrative restructuring aimed at expediting long-pending infrastructure and public service projects.