The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is gearing up to avoid water-logging situations during this year’s monsoon season, and to tackle the crisis, it will spend Rs 95 crore to procure 13 high-capacity vehicles for cleaning sewage channels in the city.
However, following widespread criticism and concerns over the financial burden, Municipal Commissioner Dr Rajendra Bhosale has decided to pay the amount in phases rather than as a lump sum.
Bhosale, in a letter to the Directorate of Municipal Administration, mentioned that payments would be made gradually as the vehicles are delivered and commissioned into service.
The PMC will lease these sewer suction machines and jetting machines for seven years. Among the 13 vehicles demanded by the PMC, eight have a high capacity of 18.5 tonnes, while five have a capacity ranging between 7 to 8 tonnes.
An initial fund of Rs 13 crore has been allocated for the first year, and only two vehicles are expected to be delivered within this period. The smaller vehicles, with a capacity of 7 to 8 tonnes, cost Rs 1.25 crore each, with a total expenditure of Rs 6.5 crore. The larger 18.5-tonne vehicles are priced at Rs 2.5 crore each, totalling Rs 14 crore.
If PMC were to purchase these vehicles outright, the estimated cost would be just Rs 20 crore. Annual maintenance and repair expenses would come to about Rs 5 crore. These vehicles could potentially serve efficiently for 10 to 12 years.
Earlier, the Directorate of Municipal Administration had directed the PMC to procure the vehicles directly, bypassing the usual tender process. The first two vehicles were recently handed over to the PMC free of cost. However, the administration has now taken a firm stance that no advance payments will be paid for future vehicle purchases.
Dr Bhosale said, “Required funds will be disbursed in phases within the financial year. Once all 13 vehicles are received, any payments for additional equipment will be made to the contractor as per the terms of the approved tender. A separate agreement will be signed between the Directorate and PMC to facilitate billing following tender rates.”
Daily rent: Rs 52,000 per vehicle
The cost of hiring one of these sewage-cleaning vehicles is Rs 26,000 for an eight-hour shift, which includes a four-member crew. Since each vehicle will operate in two shifts, the total daily rental cost amounts to Rs 52,000, according to officials.
