Pune: PMC To Bar Extremely Low Bids For Civic Projects From April 1 To Improve Work Quality
Pune: PMC To Bar Extremely Low Bids For Civic Projects From April 1 To Improve Work Quality
Pune, March 6, 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to reject unusually low bids for civic infrastructure projects from the upcoming financial year in an effort to maintain quality standards in public works.
According to Shrinath Bhimale, chairperson of the civic body’s standing committee, contractors often quote prices far below the estimated project cost to win tenders. He said that starting April 1, bids that are 30–40% lower than the estimated value of the project will not be accepted. Instead, the corporation will consider only those bids that are around 10–15% below the estimated cost.
Bhimale said that when contractors quote extremely low rates, there is a higher risk of compromise in the quality of construction and materials used. The new rule aims to prevent such situations and ensure that civic projects are executed to proper standards.
He also noted that several tenders currently being cleared were issued during the period when the civic body was functioning under an administrative setup. While these tenders are being processed for now, the standing committee has warned that they could be cancelled if any discrepancies or irregularities are found during scrutiny.
During the meeting, the committee also discussed the growing problem of illegal constructions across the city. This issue gained attention after demolition drives were carried out in areas such as Lohegaon and Viman Nagar, where the civic administration demolished several unauthorised multi-storey structures.
The committee has instructed the administration to hold officials accountable in cases where illegal constructions come up within their jurisdiction. Engineers and civic staff have been directed to conduct regular inspections in their respective areas and submit a survey report every 15 days to the standing committee.
In another development, the committee has put on hold a ₹35-crore tender issued for conducting a tree census in villages recently added to PMC limits. Committee members said the exercise could be completed at a much lower cost by involving the garden department, non-government organisations and other agencies. Concerns were also raised regarding the company that had participated in the tender, leading to the decision to suspend the process for now.
