MUMBAI: Nearly a year after a controversial transfer of BMC engineers triggered allegations of a cash-for-postings racket and forced the scrapping of over 120 transfer orders, the civic administration has completed its first round of online transfers. Accordingly, 695 engineers have been transferred through a computerised system aimed at curbing discretion and bringing transparency to postings.
The exercise was conducted through the BMC’s newly introduced Employee Transfer System Based on Randomization. Eligible engineers were invited to submit their preferences through an online application between September. The reform comes against the backdrop of a major controversy in October last year, when the BMC initiated transfers involving more than 160 engineers across various departments. The exercise was halted on October 16 by then municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani after RTI activist Anil Galgali and then Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam alleged a cash-for-transfer racket. Satam alleged that officials were demanding between ₹ 5 lakh and ₹ 40 lakh for favourable postings. Following the controversy, the administration stayed the transfers, and 122 transfer orders were subsequently cancelled.
They were allowed to select up to five preferred locations or departments, a senior civic official said.
