Pune Municipal Corporation’s proposed water tanker tracking system remains unimplemented six months after its announcement, with the civic administration now planning to begin the tendering process only after the model code of conduct ends. The delay leaves residents dependent on private tankers without the citywide digital mechanism intended to verify deliveries, track vehicles and curb alleged fake trips, water diversion and overcharging.
The system was proposed to bring greater accountability to tanker-based water supply, particularly in areas where residents rely on private deliveries during shortages or interruptions. Under the planned arrangement, residents would book tankers through a mobile application, while each vehicle’s movement would be monitored from the filling station to the delivery location.
Once water is delivered, the resident would receive a one-time password on their mobile phone to confirm the trip. The digital confirmation is intended to establish whether a booked tanker reached its destination and delivered water, helping the civic body identify records of trips that may have been entered without an actual delivery.
Nandkishore Jagtap, head of PMC’s water supply department, confirmed that the system has not yet been introduced across the city. He said the tendering process would be initiated after the model code of conduct ends and that the civic body would work towards implementing the system at the earliest.
Jagtap said the proposed platform would function on lines similar to ride-hailing services such as Ola and Uber, allowing residents to book tankers digitally and follow their movement until delivery. The OTP-based confirmation, he said, would help verify deliveries and prevent water theft and fake records.
Sajag Nagrik Manch has claimed that the system is yet to be implemented in most parts of Pune, apart from the Sus and Mahalunge areas. Activist Vivek Velankar questioned why the citywide rollout had not taken place six months after the system was announced and demanded that it be implemented without further delay.
The delay comes amid concerns that demand for tankers could rise if water cuts are imposed in the coming months. Residents dependent on tanker supply may then face higher costs and limited visibility over how bookings, trips and deliveries are recorded. Without a functioning monitoring mechanism, the civic administration would have fewer digital records to verify whether tankers have completed assigned trips or whether water has been diverted.
The next formal step identified by PMC is the tendering process, which the water department has said will begin after the model code of conduct ends. Implementation across the city will depend on the tender process and the subsequent deployment of the booking, tracking and OTP-confirmation system.
