Pune, 31 March 2026: In a controversial move, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved an expenditure of ₹45.91 lakh for the repair and renovation of the mayor’s official residence in Shivajinagar.
The decision has come under scrutiny as the work was awarded through a quotation-based process instead of the standard tender procedure. Officials cited urgency provisions to justify the move, but the lack of competitive bidding has raised concerns over transparency.
The proposal has been placed before the general body after being cleared by the standing committee. Soon after the new mayor was elected, civic officials, including the city engineer and building department, conducted a site inspection and finalized a list of required works.
The renovation includes interior and exterior painting, polishing of wooden fittings, roof repairs, furniture upgrades, and renovation of washrooms. A contractor quoting ₹38.70 lakh was identified as the lowest bidder, with the total cost rising to ₹45.91 lakh after adding GST and other charges.
However, the spending has drawn criticism as the mayor’s bungalow has remained largely unused for the past 12 years. It is currently used only for meetings and occasional visits. “Spending such a large amount makes little sense if the mayor is not going to reside there,” said Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch.
