Pune: As the financial year comes to an end, contractors and political figures have been flocking to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), urging officials to approve pending bills worth nearly ₹1,000 crore. With only a few days left before the financial year closes on March 31, the rush to clear outstanding dues has led to increased pressure on PMC’s Finance and Accounts Department.
Rush to Clear Pending Bills Before the Deadline
The last date to submit bills for major PMC projects is March 26, while the deadline for ward office payments is March 28. As per municipal regulations, contractors must submit their bills on time to ensure timely payments. However, many delay paperwork and suddenly rush to get approvals in March, creating chaos in municipal offices.
Despite repeated warnings from the administration to follow submission deadlines, contractors and their political allies have crowded PMC offices in the past few days, pressuring officials to expedite approvals. To avoid last-minute delays, the PMC Commissioner has declared March 26 as the final date for bill submissions, with no further extensions granted.
Political Leaders Lobby for Contractors
While citizens’ grievances remain unresolved, many former corporators and political figures have been actively lobbying at PMC—not for public issues, but to secure payments for their preferred contractors. These political leaders reportedly help contractors secure projects and in turn, push for their bill approvals at year-end. Over the past few days, PMC officials have faced immense pressure from former corporators, urging them to process files without delays or scrutiny.
PMC’s March Expenditure Surges by ₹1,000 Crore
While March does not see a significant rise in PMC’s revenue, its expenditure typically increases by ₹100 to ₹200 crore compared to other months. The submission of pending project bills further adds to this burden, with at least ₹1,000 crore expected to be disbursed this month.