Pune BJP corporators overrule administration’s concerns, raise budget by Rs 680 crore

The budget, presented at the General Body meeting of the PMC on Friday, includes several voter-friendly initiatives such as insurance cover, road infrastructure projects, cancer detection test facility for all women in civic hospitals among others.

With the Lok Sabha and assembly elections barely months away, the ruling BJP in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has thrown financial caution to the wind and escalated the civic budget for 2019-20 by Rs 680 crore.

The budget, presented at the General Body meeting of the PMC on Friday, includes several voter-friendly initiatives such as insurance cover, road infrastructure projects, cancer detection test facility for all women in civic hospitals, allowing school and college students to use civic gardens to study, lecture series to guide students of Class X, yoga centres in civic schools and gardens and mobile clinics for senior citizens.

Last month, the civic administration had struck a cautionary note with its draft budget for the financial year 2019-20, which, at Rs 6,085 crore, was only Rs 215 crore more than the budget for the current fiscal. The civic body’s cautious stance was a result of its inability to meet the financial targets it had set in its budget for this financial year. The administration also didn’t include any new major infrastructure projects in its draft budget.

Overruling the administration’s concerns, BJP corporators have increased the budget estimates and declared various sops and new infrastructure projects. “The new schemes and projects have been proposed considering the need of citizens and demands made by elected representatives to resolve the civic issues in their respective areas,” said Yogesh Mulick, chairperson of the standing committee.

Mulick said the civic administration had been asked to undertake cost-cutting measures and increase revenue collection to raise funds for the ambitious plans. “If required, the PMC will raise funds through loans for infrastructure projects,” he said.

The budget also has allocations for development of various civic projects in Vadgaonsheri, the constituency of the standing committee chief’s brother Jagdish Mulick. “The traffic situation in Nagar Road needs to be improved… projects worth Rs 100 crore have been proposed for the area. Similar projects have been proposed in other parts of the city as well,” said Yogesh Mulick.

A budgetary provision of Rs 185 crore has also been made to improve water supply to residents of Nagar Road by completing a project to draw water from Bhama Askhed dam.

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In 2014, the BJP had won the sole Lok Sabha seat and all eight assembly segments in Pune. Now, it faces the challenge of retaining its supremacy in city politics.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With over 22 years of experience in the industry, he is a highly specialized journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, governance, and sustainability. Professional Background Role: As Assistant Editor, he plays a key role in the editorial direction of the Pune bureau, specializing in urban policy and its direct impact on citizens. Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He also studied at the prestigious Fergusson College. Impactful Reporting: He is credited with research-based articles on conservancy staff (waste workers) that influenced national policy for better working conditions. He is also known for exposing the contrast between high-end infrastructure (like helipads for leaders) and the lack of basic amenities like schools in their home districts. Personal Interests: An avid trekker and sports enthusiast, his personal interest in the outdoors often informs his reporting on environmental protection and sustainable development. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) His reporting in late 2025 has been dominated by the upcoming January 2026 Civic Polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the city's infrastructure boom: 1. Political Analysis (Civic Elections 2026) "Not friendly but a bitter fight lies ahead between BJP and NCP for PMC, PCMC" (Dec 22, 2025): A detailed look at the intense rivalry between the Mahayuti partners as they prepare for the January 15 municipal elections. "Pune civic polls: Big blow to NCP, NCP(SP) as leaders switch to BJP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on high-profile poaching and party-hopping ahead of the elections. "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): Analyzing the results of the local self-government body elections as a precursor to the main civic polls. 2. Infrastructure & Urban Development "Looking Ahead at 2026: Pune to see inauguration of much-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro route" (Dec 22, 2025): An "outlook" piece on the critical Metro Line 3 project expected to finish by March 2026. "Building Pune: PMC to construct double-decker bridge over Mula-Mutha River" (Dec 18, 2025): Detailing a major project aimed at easing traffic between Hadapsar and Kharadi. "Condition of highway from Pune to Kolhapur to improve in a year: Gadkari" (Dec 4, 2025): Reporting on the Union Minister’s assurances regarding one of the state's most critical transport corridors. 3. Civic Governance & Environment "Install sensors, LED indicators at construction sites within 15 days: PMC to builders" (Dec 16, 2025): A follow-up to the "Breathless Pune" series, reporting on new mandates for builders to monitor air quality in real-time. "Errors in electoral rolls: PMC corrects data of 92,466 voters" (Dec 16, 2025): Tracking the administrative efforts to clean up the voter lists before the 2026 elections. Signature Style Ajay Jadhav is known for accountability journalism. His work often bridges the gap between high-level policy and the "ground zero" reality of Pune's residents. He is particularly focused on Sustainable Development, ensuring that as Pune grows into a "Bharat Mandapam" style destination (referring to his report on the Lohegaon project), its environmental and social safeguards remain intact. X (Twitter): @ajay_khape ... Read More

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