Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is grappling with administrative challenges as two out of three Additional Commissioner posts have remained vacant for nine months.

PMC Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale has taken on the added responsibility of overseeing multiple departments, which has disrupted the smooth functioning of the administration.

Despite the conclusion of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) following the assembly elections, the state government has not yet filled the vacancies.

The PMC, with 52 departments, 15 regional offices, five zonal offices, and approximately 17,000 employees, requires a robust administrative framework.

To manage this workload, the roles of three Additional Commissioners were sanctioned, one of which is usually filled by promoting senior municipal officers or by appointing IAS officers if needed.

The administrative burden has increased significantly, with Dr. Bhosale directly handling critical portfolios such as roads, land acquisition, building permissions, and encroachment removal. This has left limited time for project discussions and approvals.

Additional Commissioner Prithviraj B.P., the only appointed officer, is also under tremendous pressure, unable to dedicate time to introducing new projects or initiatives due to daily workload constraints.

The delay in appointments is reportedly linked to political lobbying. The post of Additional Commissioner at the PMC is considered prestigious, and many IAS officers use political connections to secure it.

However, uncertainties about the ruling party after the assembly elections caused delays, as candidates backed by political leaders preferred to wait for the formation of the new government.

With the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition retaining power and the new government now sworn in, administrative reshuffles are anticipated. The appointments for the PMC's vacant posts are expected soon, but the identity of the selected officers remains a matter of speculation.

Commissioner Dr. Bhosale has confirmed that he has approached the state government multiple times, requesting the appointment of officers to the vacant positions. The administrative reshuffle expected in the coming weeks may finally bring relief to the PMC.