Year after tendering, mechanised sweeping of roads in Pimpri-Chinchwad yet to begin

Civic officials said that there was a delay in importing the machines required for cleaning the road because of the Ukraine war and it will take at least another month to kickstart the process.

The civic body has appointed four contractors to carry out mechanised sweeping of roads over 18 metres wide; three from Pune and one from Delhi.

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A year after the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) completed the tender process for mechanised sweeping of the city’s roads, the system is yet to take off. The administration said it will take at least another month to kickstart the actual cleaning process.

“There has been no delay in starting the system of mechanised sweeping of roads. It is a complex agreement and there are a lot of things to be looked into…,” Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh told The Indian Express. “The machines which have to be imported have taken some time to arrive for different reasons. But we have already given the work order in June and expect to start the system in another month or so,” he added.

The PCMC has divided the city into two parts, north and south. The road length in the southern part of the city is up to 331 km, and in the north, it is up to 339 km. The civic body has appointed four contractors to carry out mechanised sweeping of roads over 18 metres wide; three from Pune and one from Delhi. The machines will also take up cleaning work in vegetable markets and vacant spaces. The PCMC will be spending Rs 3 crore a month, officials said.

“It is true that the tender process was carried out one year ago but we were trying to get everything in order. There was a delay in importing the machines required for cleaning the road because of the Ukraine war. The machines have now arrived. The process of their registration with the RTO is underway. This should happen in the next few days after which we will start the system,” Assistant Municipal Commissioner Yeshwant Dange said.

Dange added that the contractors will be paid depending on the road length they have cleaned. “’The rate is Rs 1,680 per kilometre. A vehicle tracking system will be in place to track the road length they have cleaned using the machines. The vehicles have an in-built GPS system. The moment it starts working on the road, we get a message. So we will track them online,” he said.

The civic officials also denied activists’ allegations that the process had not taken off as the PCMC could not find a minister to inaugurate it. “There is no truth in this….,” a civic official said.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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