BMC transfers close to 700 engineers in Mumbai through online lottery after cash-for-postings allegations

Mumbai: BMC transferred 695 engineers through an online lottery system following allegations of a cash-for-transfer scam last year.

Civic officials said the online system, called Employee Transfer System Based on Randomisation, was used for shifting 152 junior engineers, 444 secondary engineers and 99 assistant engineers. “Eligible engineers were allowed to submit between one and five posting preferences and efforts were made to allot preferred postings.

Transparency and impartiality were maintained in the transfer and posting process, which has once again shown that there is a positive attitude and satisfaction among the engineering cadre regarding the online process,” an official said.

Additional municipal commissioner (eastern suburbs) Avinash Dhakne said most engineers received preferred postings. “This was a fair and transparent process. So now, offline transfers will be exceptions, in cases where there are mid-term transfers. All routine transfers will only take place through the online system. Even with bulk promotions, we will try to do it online only,” he said.