Abhishek Barne Directs PCMC Officials to Cut Costs and Ensure Transparency

Standing Committee Chairman Sets 10-Day Deadline for Expenditure Reports and Review of Pending Works

Pimpri-Chinchwad : Standing Committee Chairman Abhishek Barne has directed officials of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to ensure greater transparency, administrative discipline and financial accountability in the civic body’s functioning. He stressed the need to reduce unnecessary expenditure and ensure the effective utilisation of public funds.

The directions were issued during a meeting of the PCMC Standing Committee, which approved several development works and reviewed the functioning and financial planning of various municipal departments.

Barne emphasised that the cooperation of every department was essential to improve the corporation’s financial position. He directed all departments to prepare and submit detailed reports within 10 days outlining measures to reduce expenditure.

He also instructed officials to ensure the presence of concerned officers, department heads, executive officers and Human Resources (HR) representatives at committee meetings. Officials remaining absent must explain the reasons or arrange for an authorised representative to attend.

The chairman stressed the need for proper monitoring and utilisation of municipal properties. Departments have been asked to identify unused civic properties and prepare plans to generate revenue from them. He clarified that safeguarding and monitoring municipal assets was a shared responsibility of all employees and not merely that of a particular department.

Barne also made 100 per cent biometric attendance mandatory for all officers and employees, warning of strict action in cases of non-compliance. However, he directed officials to examine cases where health department employees deployed for water supply duties were unable to record biometric attendance and take corrective measures.

Regarding development works, Barne instructed departments to ensure that all projects included in the municipal budget book were completed within the stipulated deadlines. Departments with incomplete works or approved budgetary projects must submit detailed status reports within 10 days.

He further directed officials not to keep files pending unnecessarily on their desks. Reasons for delays in file processing must be communicated in writing to senior authorities, particularly when files remain pending beyond the required period. He called for faster approvals and better coordination between departments.

The committee also stressed the need to review staff strength, assigned responsibilities and work performance across various departments to improve administrative efficiency.

“Public money must be utilised responsibly, and reducing unnecessary expenditure in every department is essential. All works approved in the municipal budget must be completed on time and with quality. If any file or project is delayed without a valid reason, we expect a clear written explanation. The Standing Committee expects all officers and employees to work in coordination and accelerate the overall development of Pimpri-Chinchwad.”

— Abhishek Barne, Chairman, Standing Committee, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation