Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Pune Toilet Tender Draws Scrutiny Over Fixed Rs 85 Rate
The Pune civic body wants to hire contractors to clean and maintain public toilets.
The proposed contract could cost nearly Rs 100 crore over two years.
It covers more than 15,000 toilet seats across the city.
Contractors would clean the toilets three times each day and handle small repairs.
Former civic opposition leader Ujwal Keskar says the fixed minimum price of Rs 85 per seat per day needs investigation.
He also questions why cheaper bids would be rejected.
PMC documents say one contractor could make cleaning and repairs easier to manage.
PMC officials did not respond to the allegations before the article was published.
The Pune Municipal Corporation has proposed a two-year toilet-cleaning contract worth nearly Rs 100 crore.
The plan covers 1,204 public and community toilets with 15,107 seats across 15 regional offices.
Former PMC opposition leader Ujwal Keskar has sought an inquiry and a stay on the tender process.
The tender bars bidders from quoting below Rs 85 per seat per day and allows lotteries for tied bids.
PMC says an integrated contract would improve accountability, while Keskar questions its cost, budget and tender conditions.
- Who
- The Pune Municipal Corporation proposed the tender; Ujwal Keskar, along with Suhas Kulkarni and Prashant Badhe, sought an inquiry.
- What
- A proposed contract would cover daily cleaning, minor repairs and maintenance of public and community toilets.
- When
- Keskar and others submitted their representation on September 22; the proposed contract would initially run for two years.
- Where
- Across Pune’s 15 regional offices, covering 1,204 public and community toilets.
- Why
- PMC says an integrated contract could address operational problems and improve accountability, while Keskar seeks review of the rate, finances and tender process.
Tender critics
PMC proposal rationale
Fixed minimum price
Tender critics
Ujwal Keskar questions why bidders cannot quote below Rs 85 per seat per day and says cheaper offers would be disqualified.
PMC proposal rationale
The PMC tender documents set Rs 85 as the approved rate, but the article does not provide a detailed official explanation for how it was calculated.
Cost and budget
Tender critics
Keskar questions a nearly Rs 100-crore commitment when the cited budget provision is around Rs 8.50 crore and seeks clarification on additional funding.
PMC proposal rationale
PMC documents link the work to budget head RE19A139 and state that regional offices would obtain additional provision through reclassification where necessary.
Single integrated contract
Tender critics
Keskar questions whether the expenditure is justified, whether existing PMC sanitation employees will receive alternative duties and whether the arrangement will reduce recurring costs.
PMC proposal rationale
PMC says combining cleaning, sanitation and minor maintenance under one contractor could address equipment and repair limitations and create greater accountability for each toilet.
- Proposed contract value
- Nearly Rs 100 crore over two years
- Fixed minimum rate
- Rs 85 per toilet seat per day
- Facilities covered
- 1,204 public and community toilets
- Total seats
- 15,107 across 15 regional offices
- Daily work
- Cleaning in three shifts, plus minor repairs and maintenance
- Budget provision
- Around Rs 8.50 crore under budget head RE19A139 for 2026-27
- Contract extension
- A possible one-year extension if performance is satisfactory