Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued a tender worth ₹160 crore for the regular mechanical cleaning of major roads and footpaths across four zones.

The tender, which spans a seven-year contract, includes the cleaning of around 40 km of roads and footpaths, particularly on 18-meter wide roads.

This re-tender follows the cancellation of a previous tender issued three months ago, which was 35% higher than the estimated cost. After reviewing current market rates, the new estimate has increased by ₹313 per kilometer.

For the past several years, wide roads in Pune have been cleaned mechanically. Previously, two tenders were issued for the cleaning of roads across all five zones of the city.

One contractor was responsible for one zone, while the other handled four zones. However, the contractor managing the four zones went bankrupt earlier this year, in February, halting the cleaning work. Consequently, waste has been accumulating on roads in these areas for the past eight months.

Three months ago, the PMC's solid waste department initiated a tender process at the prevailing rates. In addition to road cleaning, the task also included the cleaning of dividers and footpaths using jetting machines, with an estimated cost of ₹1,023 per kilometer.

However, the bids received were 35% higher than anticipated, leading the administration to cancel the process and opt for a re-tender. In the new re-estimate, the cost per kilometer has been revised to ₹1,339, with a 6% annual increase over the next seven years. This will bring the total cost to approximately ₹200 crore.

An official from the solid waste department mentioned that this time, the cleaning of footpaths has also been included in the tender. Approximately 10 km of roads in each of the four zones will be cleaned regularly under this contract.

The official also clarified that the original tender was based on previously provided rates, but the new tender takes into account the cost of mechanical sweeping services currently underway in cities like Pimpri-Chinchwad, Navi Mumbai, and Greater Mumbai, as well as the increase in labor rates. This led to an upward revision of ₹316 per kilometer in the new estimate.

Major roads such as Satara Road, Solapur Road, Nagar Road, Airport Road, and Magarpatta Road will be cleaned regularly under this project, ensuring cleaner roadways and footpaths for the city's residents.