Pune, 25th July 2026: A special general body meeting of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to discuss the functioning of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) ended on a controversial note after more than 10 hours of deliberations.
Although Managing Director Mahesh Awhad presented a detailed explanation on the transport body's financial and operational status, many corporators said their concerns remained unresolved. The meeting concluded amid political uproar, with the BJP approving financial assistance to PMPML after opposition members walked out.
The meeting began at 11 am on Friday and saw nearly 110 corporators raise concerns over PMPML's growing financial losses, bus services, employee welfare, and contractor-based operations. They expected detailed responses from the administration after presenting their views.
Responding to the discussion, Awhad outlined the financial challenges facing PMPML. The transport utility currently operates 1,964 buses, of which 1,306 are contractor-owned. It spends ₹709 crore annually on employee salaries, ₹108 crore on fuel, and ₹619 crore on contractor payments. Ticket sales generate ₹720 crore in revenue, while other sources contribute ₹98 crore.
He also informed the House that pending bills worth ₹299 crore have remained unpaid since March. Compensation for accidents, medical reimbursements, leave encashment, and several other liabilities are also outstanding. Due to the financial crunch, PMPML has been relying on contractors to continue operations.
He added that introducing a pension scheme for employees would require several hundred crore rupees, making it difficult under the current financial situation.
Awhad also clarified that decisions on promotions cannot be taken immediately as the matter is currently before the court. He said PMPML is moving in the right direction and expressed confidence that services would improve with continued support from the civic body.
The meeting took a dramatic turn when Leader of Opposition Nilesh Nikam demanded that a report related to the alleged promotion scam be tabled before the general body. Objecting to the demand, House Leader Ganesh Bidkar questioned whether the issue was being raised merely to attract media attention.
The remark sparked strong protests from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporators, who staged a walkout from the House. The confrontation disrupted proceedings for some time.
Following the opposition's exit, the BJP-led ruling side approved the proposal to provide financial assistance to PMPML, after which the special meeting was adjourned.
Congress corporator Sunil Shinde alleged that both the BJP and the NCP deliberately allowed the meeting to descend into controversy, resulting in an adjournment before several important public issues could be addressed. He said Pune residents were ultimately denied answers to the concerns raised during the discussion.
Several corporators also expressed dissatisfaction over the working style of Managing Director Mahesh Awhad, alleging that he was often unavailable for meetings and failed to keep elected representatives informed.
Responding to the criticism, House Leader Ganesh Bidkar said PMPML belongs to the people of Pune as 60% of its ownership lies with the PMC. He said the transport body should work closely with citizens and public representatives.
Bidkar also cautioned that PMPML's financial burden could rise significantly if the fleet expands further without improving its financial health, potentially affecting the city's development projects.
Mayor Manjusha Nagpure also stressed that PMPML officials should remain accessible to corporators and work in coordination with elected representatives to improve public transport services for Pune citizens.
