PMC Commissioner Restricts Sweeping Contract Extension to Three Months, Fresh Tenders Planned for 15 Ward Offices

Pune, 4th November 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) administration has restricted the extension of performance-based road sweeping contracts to just three months, overriding the Standing Committee’s decision to grant existing contractors a one-year extension. Municipal Commissioner has decided to conduct a fresh tendering process for all 15 ward offices during this period, with new contractors to be appointed for the next one year. The decision comes amid legal challenges by former corporators, who have approached the Bombay High Court against the extension of the existing contracts without inviting fresh tenders.

The PMC had introduced a three-month pilot project for performance-based sweeping work from August 1 to maintain cleanliness on roads and public spaces across the city. The pilot period ended on October 31. Subsequently, during its meeting on October 30, the Standing Committee approved a one-year extension for the existing contractors.

However, the civic administration has decided against implementing the extension for the full year and has limited it to three months. Additional Municipal Commissioner Prajit Nair said that the administration would complete the fresh tendering process during this period and appoint contractors for the following year.

Under the new arrangement, separate tenders will be floated for each of the PMC’s 15 ward offices. This will allow contractors to participate in a competitive bidding process instead of continuing through a direct extension of their existing contracts.

The issue has also triggered a legal dispute. Former corporators have approached the Bombay High Court, challenging the decision to extend the contracts without following a fresh tendering process. They have questioned the legality of granting an extension without inviting competitive bids.

Meanwhile, former Leader of the Opposition Ujjwal Keskar has raised questions about the administration’s decision to modify the Standing Committee’s resolution. He stated that once the Standing Committee approves a resolution, the administration cannot change it unilaterally and that permission from the state government is required for such a modification.

The dispute comes against the backdrop of repeated complaints about inadequate road cleaning in several parts of Pune. Corporators had previously alleged that contractors were deploying fewer sanitation workers than the approved numbers, affecting the quality of cleaning. However, the decision to grant a direct one-year extension without fresh tenders has also raised questions about accountability and transparency.

Alongside the fresh tendering process, the PMC is planning to introduce stricter conditions to monitor contractors’ performance and link payments directly to workers’ attendance.

Under the proposed system, contractors will receive full payment if the attendance of sanitation workers reaches 85 per cent. If attendance falls below 85 per cent, payments will be reduced proportionately. Contractors will face action if attendance drops below 70 per cent.

The administration has also proposed reducing the supervision fee paid to contractors from the existing eight per cent to six per cent. Additionally, appointing one supervisor for every 25 to 30 sanitation workers will be mandatory.

The new tender conditions will also require contractors to maintain online attendance records and establish a dedicated grievance redressal mechanism. They will be responsible for regular cleaning and deep cleaning of roads, public spaces, frequently littered locations, commonly referred to as chronic spots, and vacant plots.

Contractors will also have to respond to citizens’ complaints within three days. In cases where repeated lapses warrant cancellation of a contract, a decision will have to be taken within seven days.

With the Standing Committee’s resolution, the Commissioner’s decision and the legal challenge before the High Court, the future of Pune’s performance-based sweeping contracts remains a matter of administrative and legal contention. The proposed fresh tendering process is expected to determine how the city’s road-cleaning operations will be managed over the next year.