Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved tenders for three zones to mechanize road sweeping in the city using road sweepers. The standing committee sanctioned these contracts despite an increased rate of 5.75%.

The total expenditure for the three zones amounts to ₹129.62 crore. However, one zone’s tender remains pending approval. The Solid Waste Management Department will oversee the cleaning of 12 major roads, ensuring that work quality is maintained.

Tender History and Cost Escalation

In a previous attempt, PMC had floated a ₹60 crore tender for the same project across four zones for five years. However, due to contractors quoting 38-40% higher rates, the tender was canceled.

When PMC reissued the tender, modifications were made to expand the project’s scope, including extending the contract duration from five to seven years and incorporating additional technical requirements. As a result, the project cost surged to ₹172 crore—an increase of ₹112 crore compared to the previous estimate.

Breakdown of the Revised Tender

• The 2017 contract for sweeping 12 roads using road sweepers had expired.

• PMC re-initiated the tender process for Zones 1, 3, and 4 with a pre-approved estimate of ₹20.80 crore per zone.

• The total expected cost was ₹62.40 crore, but bids were again submitted at a 38-40% higher rate, leading to the tender’s cancellation in September.

• PMC then revised the tender, increasing its scope by extending the contract to seven years and including two pavement sweepers, leaf blowers, and additional workforce requirements.

• Each road will now have seven workers and three vehicles for cleaning.

These modifications led to internal discussions in PMC regarding potential benefits to specific contractors. However, the administration defended the changes by claiming Pune’s estimated cost was lower than other cities.

Tender Approval Details

• Three tenders approved: Covering a total of nine roads.

• Pending approval: The tender for Zone 1 is yet to be sanctioned.

• Daily coverage: 40 km of roads will be cleaned.

• Cost per kilometer: ₹1,339 for road sweeping.

Sandeep Kadam, Deputy Commissioner of the Solid Waste Management Department, stated: "Four tenders were issued for road sweeping. One of them had objections, so only three were approved. While the cost has increased, strict attention will be given to ensuring high-quality work."

Financial Allocation

• The three approved tenders cover Zones 2, 3, and 4.

• The duration of the contracts is seven years.

• Each zone has been allocated ₹43.20 crore, bringing the total project cost to ₹129.62 crore.