Seven years after the inclusion of 11 villages into Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) jurisdiction, development efforts have hit a roadblock due to delays in finalizing the draft development plan. The PMC is now appealing to the Maharashtra government, which has taken charge of the drafting process, to expedite permissions for new constructions to prevent further hindrance in these areas’ progress.
The villages affected include Lohegaon, Mundhwa, Phursungi, Uruli Devachi, Hadapsar, Ambegaon Khurd, Ambegaon Budruk, Undri, Dhayari, Shivane, and Uttamnagar, which were amalgamated into PMC in 2017. Although the development plan preparation commenced in 2018, its execution has been marred by various setbacks, including disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier this year, the responsibility for finalizing the draft development plan was transferred to the state government, but the PMC’s requests for an extension of the timeline have yet to receive a response from the authorities.
Previously, the PMC had the authority to grant conditional permissions for new constructions in these villages, considering the proposed amenity spaces outlined in the development plan. However, with this power now resting with the state government, the process has slowed down significantly, impeding overall development in the region.
These villages were initially under the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), which had initiated the development planning process in 2016 and conducted an existing land use survey as part of the preparation. PMRDA had expressed interest in continuing the development plan given its comprehensive data on the villages.
Furthermore, PMRDA sought state government approval to initiate a town planning scheme specifically for Ambegaon Khurd, Yeolewadi, Uruli Devachi, and Phursungi, citing the proposed construction of a 123-km ring road passing through these areas.
The delay in finalizing the development plan not only affects infrastructure development but also impacts the livelihoods and quality of life for residents in these burgeoning urban areas. The PMC emphasizes the urgency of addressing these administrative bottlenecks to facilitate inclusive and sustainable growth in Pune’s extended municipal jurisdiction.
Moving forward, collaboration between PMC and the Maharashtra government is crucial to overcoming bureaucratic hurdles and ensuring that developmental aspirations for these villages are met effectively and expeditiously. The timely resolution of these issues is paramount to unlocking the economic potential and improving urban amenities in Pune’s expanding suburbs.
