Retired deputy municipal commissioner returns to BMC on contract

26 Mar 2024 CW Team

In a notable move by the state government, the contractual appointment of Ulhas Mahale, former deputy municipal commissioner (DMC) for infrastructure, was approved over a month after his retirement from the post. The approval came from the state urban development department last Saturday, coinciding with the commencement of the model code of conduct. Mahale, who retired in January 2024, oversaw critical infrastructure projects such as roads, stormwater drains, and bridges in the city. This appointment marks the first instance of a DMC returning on contract, according to senior civic officials. Reportedly, Mahale enjoyed favour from IS Chahal, BMC Chief, and Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister, due to his handling of key projects. He was under the supervision of additional municipal commissioner (projects) P Velrasu.

Contractual appointments are governed by a General Administration Department (GAD) order dated 17 December 2016. However, the Government Resolution (GR) specifies that such appointments are intended for specific or restricted tasks, not regular duties.

Sainath Rajadhyaksha from the Municipal Engineers Union suggested that rather than making exceptions for individuals like Mahale, the retirement age for all engineers should be increased to 60. He emphasized that this policy should apply universally rather than allowing backdoor entries for a select few.

In the past, several retired civic officials, including Sudhir Naik, Parag Masurkar, Dr. Kishore Khsirsagar, Devendra Jain, and Kiran Achrekar, were appointed as Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) after retirement. However, they were not appointed to regular sanctioned positions.

Real Estate

04 Jul 2025

Shriram Properties Launches ‘Codename: The One’ in Bengaluru

Shriram Properties (SPL), a leading real estate developer focused on the mid-market and mid-premium segments, has announced the launch of its latest residential project under the banner “Codename: The One” in Bengaluru’s Electronic City corridor. This feature-rich gated community will offer 340 spacious 2- and 3-BHK residences, with a total saleable area of approximately 5 lakh square feet and an estimated revenue potential of over Rs 3.5 billion. The project is expected to be developed over a span of more than three years. Strategically located near the Bommasandra Metro stat..

India Warehousing Show 2025 Closes with Strong Global Presence

The 14th edition of the India Warehousing Show (IWS) 2025 concluded successfully at Yashobhoomi (IICC), Dwarka, drawing participation from over 300 exhibitors across 15 countries and welcoming 15,000+ visitors. Recognised as India’s leading platform for warehousing and logistics excellence, IWS 2025 offered a comprehensive display of cutting-edge automation, sustainable warehousing solutions, and next-gen supply chain technologies. The show was inaugurated by Shri Pankaj Kumar, Joint Secretary – Logistics, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. In his opening a..

MHIET Launches 450kW Gas Cogeneration System with H₂ Co-Firing

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger (MHIET), part of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, has launched a new 450kW gas cogeneration system, the SGP M450, jointly developed with Toho Gas Co.,. The system supports hydrogen co-firing at up to 15 vol per cent, with no loss in performance or reliability. The system is currently available in the Japanese market, and has been developed from the existing GS6R2 city gas engine platform. Key modifications were made to the fuel gas and engine control systems to enable hydrogen co-firing. Verified through de..