Cash-strapped transport utility demands Rs 120 crore from PCMC

PUNE: The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has demanded Rs 120 crore from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to pay the arrears to its employees. The PCMC will take a decision on the matter at its general body meeting on December 20.
The proposal states that new pay scales based on the sixth pay commission recommendations were approved for the transport body from December 2011 but it could not pay the salary difference from April 2007 to November 2011 due to its poor financial state.The state government had on August 8, 2014 conveyed to PMPML that the amount is part of the operational losses; therefore, the money must be secured from the municipal corporations. The president and managing director of the transport body have requested the civic body to pay Rs 120 crore.
Pravin Ashtikar, joint managing director of the transport body, said, "The state government has asked us to take the money from the municipal corporations to pay the arrears to the employees. The total amount that needs to be paid to the employees is Rs 270 crore, of which, PCMC's share is Rs 120 crore. Around 10,000 employees will benefit if the civic bodies give their shares."
Rajiv Jadhav, municipal commissioner said that the general body will take a call on the matter.
Group leaders of corporators of various political parties had expressed displeasure over the civic administration giving money to the transport body stating that the service offered in Pimpri Chinchwad was not in proportion to the amount paid. They had also demanded that the civic administration must seek general body's approval before giving funds to PMPML.