The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will begin cleaning major roads in the Pune Cantonment Board area, committing an estimated Rs 2 crore annually to a civic service outside its formal jurisdiction. The move follows concerns over garbage remaining unattended along roads in the central city area.
PMC Additional Commissioner Prajit Nair said the civic body’s solid waste management department would undertake regular cleaning of the major roads. The PMC health department is expected to begin the work soon, although the report did not specify a start date or list the roads covered under the arrangement.
The Pune Cantonment area is not part of the PMC’s administrative limits. However, PMC officials said waste accumulation along important roads had affected the overall cleanliness and image of Pune. The cantonment is located in the heart of the city and is used by residents, commuters and visitors travelling to government offices and other civic and administrative centres.
The area includes the divisional commissioner’s office and offices of several state government departments. Ministers, legislators, Members of Parliament and other dignitaries also frequently visit the cantonment, according to civic officials. The PMC said the condition of roads in the area could lead visitors to form an incorrect impression about the municipal corporation’s work because the cantonment is commonly perceived as part of Pune.
“Several important offices are located in the cantonment area, resulting in frequent visits by dignitaries. The poor cleanliness there can create a misconception about the PMC’s work. To ensure that the city maintains a clean and attractive image, the PMC has decided to clean the major roads in the cantonment area,” Nair said.
The decision was taken after discussions between the PMC and cantonment authorities. The cantonment authorities have agreed to allow the PMC to carry out regular cleaning of the major roads, according to the report. The arrangement places an additional financial responsibility on the PMC because the work will be conducted beyond the civic body’s usual administrative boundary.
The proposed annual expenditure of about Rs 2 crore will cover the cleaning exercise through the PMC’s solid waste management system. The report did not provide details on the number of workers, vehicles, collection frequency, disposal arrangements or the source of funds for the service.
The arrangement also highlights the administrative overlap that can arise in a city where municipal, cantonment and state-government institutions operate alongside one another. While the PMC remains responsible for services within its limits, the cantonment area is physically integrated with the wider urban fabric and is used daily by people moving across Pune.
The PMC’s health department is expected to commence cleaning work shortly. Further operational details, including the roads to be covered and the schedule for regular cleaning, are yet to be announced.
