Special Correspondent
Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has given the green light to road sweeping tenders worth Rs 129.62 crore for mechanised cleaning in three zones of the city. This decision was made during a standing committee meeting, where three out of four proposed tenders were approved. One tender was excluded due to objections, while the remaining tenders were accepted with a 5.75% increase over the estimated costs.
Under the approved plan, mechanised road sweepers will be used to clean the roads in Zones 2, 3, and 4 over a period of seven years. Each zone has been allocated Rs 43.20 crore, totaling Rs 129.62 crore for the project. Interestingly, all three tenders were awarded at the same cost. According to the PMC’s estimates, the cost for sweeping one kilometre of road will be Rs 1,339, with contractors tasked to clean 40 kilometres of roads daily.
This decision follows the cancellation of an earlier Rs 60 crore tender for four zones, where contractors’ bids exceeded the estimated costs by 38-40%. In response, PMC revised the terms, extending the contract duration to seven years and introducing additional technical requirements. These changes significantly increased the project’s total cost, which now stands at Rs 172 crore—an increase of Rs 112 crore over the original estimate.
The revised tender includes stricter requirements, such as the use of two pavement sweepers, leaf blowers for better cleaning efficiency, and a mandate for seven workers and three vehicles per road. While these changes are intended to improve cleanliness, some officials have raised concerns about whether the modifications might favor specific contractors.
In defense of the new terms, PMC officials argue that the adjusted budget for Pune remains lower than similar projects in other cities. They emphasize that the changes were necessary to keep pace with the city’s growing maintenance needs and to align with industry standards. The mechanised sweeping project is part of PMC’s ongoing efforts to enhance urban cleanliness, reduce manual labour, and tackle rising pollution levels. By deploying road sweepers, PMC aims to improve the overall maintenance of major roads in the city, with hopes to extend the program to other areas in the future.
