Pune: PMC Leads In E-Governance But Faces Criticism Over ₹8 Crore SAP System Underuse
Pune Municipal Commissioner Orders Immediate Action To Ease Congestion On 32 Key Pune Roads
Pune, September 1, 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has secured the top position in Maharashtra for e-governance reforms, earning recognition for its digital initiatives. However, the civic body is now under scrutiny for failing to fully utilize its ₹8 crore SAP (Systems, Applications and Products) software—meant to modernize finance and material management operations.
Activists Question Underutilization
Activist Vivek Velankar highlighted that PMC approved the SAP project in 2017, with Atos Origin handling the installation. The system went live in April 2022, but three years later, both old and new systems are being run simultaneously.
- The finance department uses SAP only partially.
- The central store department has yet to adopt it.
Velankar stated that SAP could prepare a balance sheet within two days, yet the civic body continues to rely on Excel for budgeting. This dual-system approach has left the software “virtually redundant,” he said, adding that it undermines transparency and efficiency goals.
Public Concerns Over Wasted Investment
An Undri citizen criticized PMC for failing to implement mechanisms to resolve rollout issues. They stressed that the municipal body must ensure proper use of the system from October 1, discontinuing the old software completely.
Call For Immediate Action
Velankar urged the commissioner to ensure that the ₹8 crore investment delivers results. “It is the responsibility of PMC to see that taxpayers’ money is put to meaningful use,” he said, calling for urgent corrective measures to make SAP the primary operational system.
