The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has assured farmers and landowners in six Maval villages that the proposed Pune Inner Ring Road will remain 65 metres wide, while objections to town planning schemes could trigger a cancellation proposal if specified conditions are met.
Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Abhijit Chaudhari gave the assurances during a meeting with farmers, gram panchayat representatives and revenue officials at PMRDA’s headquarters in Akurdi on Monday. Representatives from Salumbre, Darumbre, Godumbre, Parandwadi, Dhamane and Sangawade attended the meeting and raised concerns about the road project and proposed town planning schemes.
Chaudhari said PMRDA would send proposals to the state government to cancel town planning schemes in villages where the gram panchayat passes a resolution against them and at least 50% of farmers oppose the schemes. Landowners from the affected villages can submit signed applications seeking cancellation, after which the authority will examine the requests and initiate the necessary legal process under the applicable provisions, according to the report.
The commissioner also said the Inner Ring Road alignment had been finalised in accordance with the regional plan. The 65-metre-wide road has been accommodated within the limits of the original 110-metre alignment, he said, adding that this would avoid additional land acquisition.
Farmers whose land is acquired for the project were assured that their property would be properly valued and that compensation would be paid in full in cash. Those who provide consent for the acquisition would be eligible for additional compensation, Chaudhari said. The assurances address one of the central concerns for landowners: whether the earlier 110-metre reference could lead to a wider acquisition footprint.
PMRDA will revise the zone certificates after its structural plan is finalised and comes into effect. Chaudhari said the structural plan would specify the Inner Ring Road’s width as 65 metres, replacing the existing reference to a 110-metre-wide road on zone certificates.
The structural plan is also expected to prioritise planned development in areas adjoining the Inner Ring Road because of the growth potential associated with the project. Detailed planning for urban amenities and development in these areas will be undertaken at later stages, the commissioner said.
The meeting was attended by senior PMRDA and Revenue Department officials, including Joint Commissioner of the Land and Property Department Poonam Mehta, Deputy Commissioner Himat Kharade, Deputy Collector Vanashree Labshetwar, Metropolitan Planner Smita Kalkutki, Joint Metropolitan Planner Shweta Patil and acting chief engineer Rajendra Rahane. Officials from the land acquisition and land records departments also participated.
The next formal steps are the submission of signed applications and gram panchayat resolutions by villages opposing the town planning schemes, followed by PMRDA’s examination of those requests. The road width will be reflected in revised zone certificates after the authority’s structural plan is finalised and implemented.
