Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to auction 473 decommissioned vehicles from its fleet, as these vehicles have reached the end of their operational lifespan. The online auction will take place today on the MSTC website of the state government, according to PMC’s Additional Municipal Commissioner Prithviraj B.P.
Fleet Details and Transition to Rental Vehicles
PMC currently operates 1,163 vehicles across multiple departments, including solid waste management, fire services, water supply, encroachment removal, electricity, parks, sewage management, and official transport.
In recent years, instead of purchasing new vehicles for officials, the administration has opted for a rental model, leasing vehicles for a seven-year period to reduce maintenance costs. However, essential service vehicles still require procurement, leading to an annual expenditure of several crores.
Scrapping Policy and Removal of Old Vehicles
In line with the central government’s vehicle scrapping policy, which mandates the de-registration of vehicles older than 15 years, PMC has phased out 473 vehicles over the last two years, some of which were 15 to 24 years old. These decommissioned vehicles had been stored at Gultekdi Motor Vehicle Department and PMC sites in Kondhwa and Hadapsar.
Auction Process and Space Constraints
The decision to auction these vehicles was taken due to limited storage space. Initially, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) was assigned the task of handling the auction but was unsuccessful. As a result, PMC has taken charge of the process and will conduct the auction online today, March 25, from 12 PM to 4 PM.