Pune Property Checks Tighten Across Merged Villages
Pune’s municipal authorities have warned homebuyers to exercise greater caution when purchasing property in the city’s 23 merged villages, where unauthorised construction remains a concern. The advisory comes as rapid housing growth pushes development into the urban fringe, making planning permissions and infrastructure capacity increasingly important. For buyers, a low-cost home in a fast-growing locality can carry significant legal and financial risks if the underlying construction has not received the required approvals.
The warning comes at a critical point in the governance of these peripheral areas. The 23 villages were brought within Pune Municipal Corporation limits in 2021, but planning responsibilities remained with the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority for several years. In February 2026, the Maharashtra government formally transferred planning authority for these areas to PMC. That transition matters because the planning authority controls development permissions and the framework under which new buildings can legally come up. The state has also moved towards preparing a dedicated development plan for the merged villages, with the aim of establishing clearer zoning and infrastructure planning.
PMC’s latest warning reflects the enforcement challenge created by rapid construction. Recent civic action has included demolition of unauthorised structures in areas such as Lohegaon and Kharadi. The corporation has separately advised residents in newly merged areas against purchasing plots in illegal layouts or proceeding with unauthorised construction before the planning framework is settled. For homebuyers, the implications can extend well beyond a notice or demolition order. A property built without valid permissions may create difficulties around occupation, municipal services, resale, financing and future redevelopment. Buyers who rely only on sales assurances can discover these problems after committing a substantial portion of their savings. Urban expansion also has a broader cost. Unauthorised projects can bypass requirements for road access, drainage, open spaces, water supply and other civic infrastructure. When housing grows faster than planned infrastructure, residents can face congestion, flooding, inadequate services and higher long-term costs. This makes enforcement a planning issue as much as a legal one.
The Pune property market will continue to expand towards peripheral locations as land prices and housing demand reshape the city. But sustainable growth requires development to move alongside transport, water, drainage and public amenities. The Pune property market can absorb rapid expansion only if buyers have reliable information and developers operate within a transparent planning system. For prospective buyers, the immediate safeguard is independent verification of sanctioned plans, development permissions and other applicable approvals with the relevant planning authority before paying for a property. For the city, the bigger test is whether stronger enforcement can be matched by timely planning and infrastructure investment across the merged villages.
