November 1st 2023.
Pune Municipal Corporation has achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting an online auction for the allocation of 173 firecracker stalls. The auction, which took place on October 30 and 31, generated a remarkable ₹39 lakh in revenue, surpassing all previous records for the civic body.
The decision to move to an online system was taken to increase efficiency as well as to address the issue of better space management for the sale of firecrackers. This has resulted in an additional ₹15 lakh in revenue, which is a significant improvement over the ₹20-25 lakh generated through offline auctions.
Winners of the auction must obtain a no-objection certificate from the fire department and other relevant authorities before setting up their stalls, in line with the directives of the Bombay High Court to reduce the number of firecracker stalls in high-risk locations across the city. Open spaces, including public lands and utility areas, are leased for this purpose.
The online system has received positive feedback from firecracker sellers, although some traders expressed concerns about the last-minute introduction of the online auction, which hindered their participation.
Given the positive outcome of this year's online auction, there is a growing consensus to make it a regular practice. This would enhance awareness and elicit a more robust response from traders in the future. This move will help ensure the optimal use of space and organised placement of stalls, while providing a major boost to the revenue of the Pune Municipal Corporation.
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