Civic panel chiefs want new cars, BMC relents

With barely two months left for the term of the current elected body of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to end, the chairpersons of civic committees have put forth a fresh demand. This time round, they want brand new cars and the ruling party has agreed.

With barely two months left for the term of the current elected body of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to end, the chairpersons of civic committees have put forth a fresh demand. This time round, they want brand new cars and the ruling party has agreed.

HT Image

“Our cars are old, and even after repeated repairs, their condition hasn’t improved,” said Rajul Patel, chairperson of BMC’s health committee. She said that once her car broke down and she was left with no choice but leave her car on the road and travel by train to attend a meeting at BMC office.

“Travelling by train is not an issue, but shouldn’t we avail privileges given to us as committee chairpersons. Don’t we work?” said Patel, who even raised this issue in the standing committee meeting held last week.

The civic election is due early next year and the code of conduct is likely to be enforced by mid-December. “Not only committee chairpersons but even the mayor and deputy mayor have to surrender their official cars and sim cards once the code of conduct comes into force,” said a civic official from the election department.

“My car broke down five times in a month. Civic officials have better cars than chairpersons,” said Rajiv Chaugule, chairman of the law committee.

Rahul Shewale, standing committee chairman, directed the civic administration to bring a proposal to buy cars for all committee chairpersons.

“We have decided to buy new cars for them,” Shewale said.