Pune: For the past six months, mechanical road sweeping in the city has come to a halt in all but one ward, leaving major roads marred by accumulated dust and dirt.

The Solid Waste Management Department's delays in conducting tenders and incorrect guidance from a consultant have led to the awarding of contracts at rates 35% higher than expected, resulting in a significant breakdown of cleanliness efforts.

The city's major roads have relied on mechanical cleaning methods for several years, with contracts awarded to private contractors through tenders issued for each of the city's five municipal wards.

In four of these wards, the contracts expired in February, and the administration failed to conduct a timely tendering process before these contracts ended. Further complicating matters was the imposition of the Code of Conduct for the Lok Sabha elections, which delayed the process even further.

Consequently, road cleaning activities in four zones have been almost completely halted, with only the Hadapsar-Wanawadi zone continuing its operations.

Post-election, the administration resumed the tendering process with consultant assistance, adhering to previous contract rates. However, this round included additional requirements for the regular cleaning of road dividers and footpaths using jetting machines.

The initial response saw only one bidder, prompting an extension of the submission deadline. Subsequent submissions saw more participants, but the proposed rates were significantly higher—35% to 40% above expectations. Notably, companies with previous experience in such contracts found the rates unviable and chose not to participate.

Sandeep Kadam, head of the Solid Waste Management Department, explained that due to the tenders being priced significantly above the anticipated rates, a proposal for re-tendering has been submitted to the Municipal Commissioner. Further decisions are pending the Commissioner's directive.

Meanwhile, ward offices have been instructed to manage road cleanliness within their areas using available resources, and vehicles from contractors in the Hadapsar-Wanawadi ward are being utilized where possible.

The administrative delays have also impacted the street furniture installed last year in preparation for the G20 summit. The Municipal Corporation had enhanced major roads with decorative street furniture and traffic islands through CSR initiatives. However, post-summit neglect by the municipal administration has left these installations in disrepair.

Ward offices, though equipped with manpower for internal cleaning, lack the necessary resources to maintain cleanliness on major roads, resulting in visible piles of waste and dust on several roads and bridges.