Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) plans to shift out the metropolitan surveillance unit (MSU), six months after it became partially functional at Jawale Bhavan in Kasba Peth, and make way for a new zonal ward office.The MSU is a crucial project to detect any spike in infectious diseases in the city.In 2021, during the Covid pandemic, the Centre had instructed health departments of all states to set up special surveillance cells to detect unusual spikes of infections or novel diseases. The unit in Pune was finally started in Sept 2025.Health department officials blamed the delay on space unavailability. “Earlier, a spot was proposed on the sixth floor of Naidu hospital, but it was not as per central govt norms. Later, the Jawale Bhavan spot was chosen and a 6,000 sqft of area was earmarked,” said Dr Vaishali Jadhav of the PMC health department.The unit was functional for six months with staff hired to record spikes in diseases, if any, as per information by private and govt hospitals, laboratories and private clinics. The data base is expected to help govt agencies prepare in case of any unwarranted rise in diseases. A biosafety research laboratory (BSL-2) and other infrastructure was yet to be built at the unit.The civic body had awaited funds from the Centre between 2021 and 2025, and it was allocated only last year. Now, with plans to shift the unit out of its current spot, the funds could lapse leading to a potential closure of the project in Pune.Requesting anonymity, a senior health department official said, “The standing committee recently passed a resolution to cancel the tender to build the partially ready MSU. It took us years to find the space. We have set up the infrastructure too and work has started. The unit is crucial for surveillance and reporting. It helps detect any abnormal disease spike, so that we can plan accordingly. The project is critical for a city like Pune, which was worst hit by swine flu, Covid 19 and GBS. Newer challenges keep emerging and we need to be prepared.”In its resolution dated March 1, the committee called for the cancellation of the tender. Instead, it suggested a new zonal ward office be set up on the spot.Consequently, the civic health department submitted a formal proposal to PMC commissioner Naval Kishore Ram requesting that the MSU be allowed to continue operating from its current space. The letter said a change in location would mean that the entire process — including identifying a new site, taking possession and commencing work — could not possibly be completed before March-end. The failure to complete the project within the allotted time could potentially lead to its cancellation, read the letter. Such a situation would be a significant detriment to the city’s public health interests. The letter urged for the decision to be reconsidered.Ram said, “We have to find a balance between the zonal office and the MSU. We are not undermining the central govt project, but it is not location-specific. We need a new zonal ward office, due to delimitation of wards, to look after the administration of the entire area. We will find another place for the MSU and not compromise on the quality of infrastructure or manpower required. “Pune was among the few chosen cities nationwide to establish an MSU units. A fund of Rs 8 crore was sanctioned for the initiative.
