“PMC personnel are being used for surveys and monitoring even for routine road and footpath works. Why can’t the Corporation engineers handle them?” asked Councillor C Velu.

Citing works in three streets in his ward, Velu claimed that the roads had deteriorated soon after they were laid and since then had not been relaid. “If the Corporation has capable engineers, why should money be spent on PMCs? Retired Corporation chief engineers can be engaged on contract to oversee works, he stated.”

Other members, including the Deputy Mayor M Magesh Kumaar also questioned the functioning and quality of PMCs, asking whether the problem was with the consultants or with the way their reports were being handled by Corporation officials. Responding to the councillors queries, Corporation Commissioner GS Sameeran explained that the PMC system was introduced when Gagandeep Singh Bedi was head of GCC, primarily to support major storm water drain projects and address shortages in the Corporation’s engineering manpower.

“PMCs were also a mandatory requirement under agreements for projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Germany’s KfW. Removing them from such projects would therefore not be possible without affecting the funding arrangements,” he said.