Nail-biting finish to BMC chief’s extension drama

The office of municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters was wearing a sombre look until a state employee came with a letter of term extension at 8.15pm on Tuesday.

While there was suspense over whether or not the municipal commissioner will get an extension, rumours that Kumar was waiting in his office to hand over the charges to the new civic chief were doing the rounds.

At 8.15pm, a civic employee came hurriedly to hand over the circular to deputy municipal commissioner Sudhir Naik, also officer on special duty for the civic chief. Naik rushed to Kumar’s cabin to give the circular.

According to the circular signed by KP Bakshi, principal secretary, General Administration Department, the extension was till April 30, 2012. 

Until the circular reached the commissioner’s office, the staff waited for the orders.

Subodh Kumar was in his office, along with additional municipal commissioners Aseem Kumar Gupta, Rajiv Jalota  and Manisha Mhaiskar, until the orders came. After all three AMCs left, MCHI president Nayan Shah came to greet Kumar for his extension.
Earlier, Kumar had received a call from the Mantralaya, saying that he need not hand over charge to anyone.