Pune will enforce new administrative restrictions from the night of May 26, with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) issuing orders aimed at controlling public gatherings and reducing fuel consumption amid rising petrol and diesel prices.
The civic body has announced that the restrictions will remain in force for 14 days. During this period, public protests, rallies, marches, and large gatherings will not be permitted in the city.
According to PMC officials, the decision has been taken in view of the increasing fuel burden on the municipal administration and the need for strict fuel-saving measures.
PMC Introduces Fuel-Saving Measures
The Pune Municipal Corporation has also issued detailed guidelines to reduce excessive fuel usage by municipal departments. Additional Commissioner Prajit Nair has directed all department heads to strictly control unnecessary vehicle usage and avoid avoidable travel expenses.
The administration stated that municipal vehicles should be used only for essential work and all official travel must be properly planned to minimize fuel consumption.
What Does the Order Say?
The order mentions that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently appealed to citizens to use fuel carefully due to rising global crude oil prices and the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Following this appeal, PMC has proposed several measures for its officers and employees:
- Use minimum vehicles during official site visits.
- Prefer public transport such as buses and trains for official travel to Mumbai, courts, and other locations.
- Officials traveling to the same destination should use carpooling.
- Employees should use public transport whenever official tours are necessary.
- PMC staff must travel at least one day a week using Metro, local trains, or public buses.
- Meetings, seminars, training sessions, and discussions should be conducted online wherever possible.
Key Instructions Issued by PMC
The administration has clearly instructed departments to:
- Strictly control vehicle usage.
- Avoid unnecessary trips.
- Plan combined tours to save fuel.
- Reduce vehicle usage for office work.
- Encourage officers traveling to the same place to use a single vehicle instead of multiple cars.
- Implement carpooling as a mandatory practice wherever possible.
Why Has PMC Taken This Decision?
PMC officials stated that the move is aimed at reducing the additional financial burden on the civic body due to rising fuel prices. Expenses related to fuel, vehicle maintenance, and drivers have increased significantly in recent months.
With financial pressure mounting, the administration has now shifted focus toward expenditure control and fuel conservation.
Citizens and officials are now closely watching how effectively these restrictions will reduce fuel consumption and control unnecessary vehicle usage in Pune.
