Pune polls: BJP promises concession on city buses, Metro for women, tax relief for small properties

With just a few days to go for elections to the Pune civic body, the BJP has unveiled its manifesto, promising property tax waiver for economically weaker sections and sops for women, including concession for them in Metro rail and city bus fares.

The manifesto titled 'Sankalp Patra' was unveiled on Wednesday in the presence of the party's Pune Lok Sabha MP Murlidhar Mohol, state ministers Chandrakant Patil and Madhuri Misal, MLAs and other leaders.

In the document, the BJP said if it comes to power in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), it will provide free travel on Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) buses to citizens above 75 years of age, and give concession on fares to women on the city buses and Metro rail.

It also promised Rs 2,500 per month to poor women under the state government's 'Ladki Bahin Yojana', and a waiver of property tax for houses and flats measuring under 500 square feet.

Addressing a press conference, Mohol said, "We have managed to achieve most of what we promised in the last manifesto. We had assured Punekars about Metro train service, equitable water distribution and riverfront development. We have managed to deliver on these promises."

Projects under the smart city initiative have been built in parts of the city, such as Balewadi and Baner, as per the plan, he said.

"We also assured Punekars, annual free medical check-up for everyone above 30 years. We will soon build an AIIMS Hospital and a data centre near the Mumbai-Pune Expressway will also be constructed," the MP added.

Elections to the PMC and 28 other civic bodies in the state will be held on January 15, and the results will be declared the next day.

The PMC has a total of 165 seats. While the BJP is contesting all seats alone, the Shiv Sena is fighting 123 seats. Ajit Pawar's NCP is contesting 138 seats.

The Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) are contesting 99, 43 and 44 seats respectively.