With just five days remaining for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, the alliance of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions made a significant announcement on Saturday. They have promised to provide free rides on the Pune Metro and PMPML buses for all commuters if they are elected to govern the civic body for the next five-year term.
Key Promises in the 'Punyasathi Hamipatra'
The manifesto, titled 'Punyasathi Hamipatra' or 'Letter of Guarantee for Pune', was jointly released by the estranged cousins, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule. The cover page prominently features photographs of both NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and NCP president Ajit Pawar.
The document outlines several key pledges for the city's development, including the ambitious plan for free public transport. Beyond that, it commits to creating a water tanker-free Pune, offering a waiver in property tax for small houses, and implementing measures to improve the overall flow of traffic in the congested city.
The Math Behind Free Public Transport
Addressing questions about the financial feasibility of offering free rides on Metro and buses, Ajit Pawar explained that the promise was made after consulting with experts. He presented a detailed calculation based on the economic losses caused by Pune's notorious traffic congestion.
"As per the study, nearly 15 lakh vehicles end up wasting at least half an hour in Pune's traffic every day," Pawar stated. He elaborated that considering a wastage of half a litre of fuel per vehicle, the daily cost amounts to Rs 7.5 crore. When the wastage of man-hours is added, the daily financial loss escalates to a staggering Rs 30 crore.
This translates to an annual estimated loss of around Rs 10,800 crore due to traffic jams. In contrast, the deputy chief minister claimed that if the civic body subsidizes the ticket expenses for commuters using Pune Metro and PMPML, the annual cost would not exceed Rs 300 crore.
"Besides, the initiative will help reduce the number of private vehicles on roads, which will improve the air quality of Pune," he added, highlighting the environmental benefit of the proposal.
Tackling the Water Tanker Menace
The manifesto also takes aim at Pune's persistent water supply problems. Ajit Pawar admitted that the irregular water supply in several areas has allowed a powerful water tanker lobby to make crores of rupees.
"We are promising to address the menace of the water tanker mafia by making the city tanker-free," he asserted. The plan is to ensure every household receives a regular and reliable water supply directly through the PMC's pipeline connections.
To prevent wastage and ensure efficient distribution, the alliance proposes monitoring the water supply system with the help of advanced technology.
Roadmap for Development and Fiscal Responsibility
Supriya Sule emphasized that these promises are achievable if the civic administration takes strict measures to plug financial leakages and redirect funds towards public welfare schemes. She framed the manifesto as a concrete five-year roadmap for Pune's development.
"The administration also needs to ensure projects are completed on time. Delays lead to cost escalation, which is a wastage of public money," Sule remarked, underscoring the importance of timely execution and fiscal discipline in realizing their vision for the city.
The release of this populist manifesto sets the stage for a highly competitive election, with the NCP alliance banking on these promises to win the trust of Pune's voters.
