Will Tackle Daily Civic Issues First

Naval Kishore Ram, the newly appointed municipal commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), is focused on addressing the city's immediate civic challenges, while also planning and implementing long-term development projects.

- Vicky Pathare

PUNE: Appointed to the role on May 31, Ram emphasized the importance of solving day-to-day problems faced by citizens. In an exclusive interview, he shares his vision and priorities for transforming Pune.

You've been visiting different parts of the city and meeting people directly. What is the reason behind this approach?

I believe the role of a civic commissioner is not just to sit in the office and look at long-term projects, but also to be connected to the ground realities. I like to be on the ground, visit locations which have problems and speak with citizens from those areas to understand the ground reality and problem. I don't believe in just depending on complaints received from organizations or politicians to understand the actual problem. In my first two weeks, I wanted to hear from citizens directly—what problems they face daily. Some think I should only focus on big projects, but unless we fix everyday issues like garbage, encroachments, waterlogging, potholes, and sanitation, we can't talk about a livable city.

What are your plans for sanitation and waste management?