Pune: PMC Orders Strict Adherence to Office Hours Amid Rising Citizen Complaints

Pune, 10th July 2025: In response to mounting public complaints about delays and staff absenteeism, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has directed all its employees to strictly follow office timings and prioritize attending to citizens during working hours.

Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has issued a formal circular to all department heads and ward offices, mandating close monitoring of staff attendance and presence. The order emphasizes accountability and warns of disciplinary action against repeated violations of work schedules.

“Each department must maintain daily attendance records and ensure that staff members are available to assist citizens during working hours. Strict action will be taken against those who fail to comply,” the circular states.

The directive outlines working hours for administrative officers, department employees, and sanitary inspectors. A fixed 30-minute lunch break has been prescribed, and employees have been told to follow the official government schedule without exceptions.

Public Frustration Over Delays and Absence
Frequent complaints from residents have highlighted issues such as late reporting to duty and staff being unavailable—especially during afternoon hours around lunchtime.

PMC operates 15 ward offices and over 40 department offices citywide, handling a range of civic services from property tax to sanitation and building permissions.

Citizens Call for Better Accountability
Vivek Velankar, founder of citizen forum Sajag Nagrik Manch, said that irregular staff attendance is one of the most persistent complaints from residents. He called for clear timelines and responsibility mapping within the civic system.

“People often face indefinite delays in basic services. If employees commit to a timeline for processing applications or complaints, it would improve trust and efficiency,” Velankar said.

“Moreover, accountability must be fixed. If road work is not completed properly, someone in charge should be answerable,” he added.

Review to Follow Implementation
A senior PMC official informed that the administration will conduct a performance review in the coming weeks to evaluate improvements in staff presence, punctuality, and service delivery.

“We’ll assess whether the new directive is improving civic service delivery. If issues persist, stricter action and additional monitoring mechanisms may be introduced,” the official said.