Pune: Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) ward committees can now approve tenders worth up to ₹25 lakh within their respective jurisdictions, following approval of a proposal moved by municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram. The move raises the financial limit for the ward committees from the existing ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh.

PMC ward committees can now approve tenders worth up to ₹25 lakh within their respective jurisdictions, following approval of proposal moved by municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram. ((PIC FOR REPRESENTATION))

Standing Committee chairman Shrinath Bhimale said on Friday that decentralising powers would help reduce delays in approving development works in the wards. “The increase in the financial limit will help speed up the approval process for development works at the ward level. Smaller civic works can now be cleared locally instead of waiting for approval at the central level,” Bhimale said.

The proposal comes as the civic body deals with a growing workload related to roads, sanitation, water supply, healthcare, education and other public services across its 527 sq km area.

Under the existing system, ward committees can grant administrative and financial approval for municipal construction works costing up to ₹5 lakh, provided the funds for the work are included in the approved civic budget.

Under the revised arrangement, the technical and administrative approval powers for works up to ₹25 lakh will remain with the existing authorised officers. The respective ward committee will have the power to approve tenders up to the revised limit. This will reduce the need to wait for the municipal corporation’s central level approval for each tender.

According to civic officials, the committees must also approve tenders within the prescribed time under Section 73(C) of the Act. They will need to ensure an adequate budgetary provision exists for the work before granting approval.