Pune: In a meeting with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar stressed the need to resolve the city's growing traffic woes.

He directed PMC and traffic police to collaborate with MahaMetro and PMPML to create a comprehensive plan. Pawar also emphasized increasing budget allocation for critical infrastructure projects in the upcoming municipal budget.

Pawar outlined the urgency of addressing incomplete roadworks, potholes, and road widening projects to improve traffic flow. "The focus should be on completing large-scale projects that can significantly ease congestion rather than minor, incremental improvements," he said during the review meeting.

Property Tax for Merged Villages Under Discussion

The PMC officials highlighted revenue challenges due to the moratorium on property tax collection in 34 newly merged villages. Pawar questioned the taxation approach, to which officials explained that an annual 20% increase in property tax is being implemented, reaching 100% taxation over five years. Pawar assured officials that a meeting in Mumbai would be convened to resolve this issue and finalize decisions on tax collection.

Request for Revised GST Grants

PMC also appealed for a revision of GST grants, which are currently calculated based on the city's pre-expansion boundaries. Officials argued that the grants should reflect the city's growing population and geographical area. Pawar acknowledged the demand and indicated that this issue would also be addressed.

This review meeting marked Pawar's first visit to the city's administrative departments after taking charge as Finance Minister. The focus on critical urban issues underscores the administration's intent to address Pune's infrastructure and financial challenges effectively.