Pune Road Mandate Reshapes PMRDA Urban Planning
The new flyover will cost around Rs 240 crore which will be shared by the PMC and PMRDA, said city engineer Vivek Kharwadkar. The PMC’s standing committee followed by the general body would need to approve this demolition order, after which the process will start. (Photo by Pratham Gokhale/Hindustan Times)
The state government has scrapped the draft Development Plan (DP) previously prepared by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and issued a fresh mandate for 18-metre-wide roads in all upcoming planning efforts.
The directive, delivered during a recent city visit by top state officials, underscores a strategic pivot: prioritising town planning (TP) schemes over comprehensive development plans within PMRDA limits. This move signals a deeper intent to drive infrastructure uniformity, mobility efficiency, and sustainable urban growth, particularly in the rapidly expanding Pune periphery. Officials confirmed that six long-pending town planning schemes submitted for state-level approval now stand at a crossroads. These proposals, some in planning for years, feature road networks between 9 to 12 metres wide—significantly short of the new 18-metre requirement.
The sudden shift has thrown planners into reassessment mode. According to senior PMRDA officials, a comprehensive review of all pending TP schemes is underway. The authority is evaluating whether current designs can be adapted to accommodate the wider road mandate without compromising core development goals or creating excessive land acquisition burdens. The six town planning schemes currently under review span key emerging growth nodes of the Pune Metropolitan Region: Maan-Mahalunge (250.50 hectares), Manjari-Kolavadi (233.35 hectares), Autade-Handewadi (94.74 hectares), Wadachiwadi (134.79 hectares), Holkarwadi-4 (158.19 hectares), and Holkarwadi-5 (130.78 hectares). These regions have attracted significant interest from real estate and industrial developers due to their proximity to Pune’s IT corridors and proposed ring road alignments.
The shift towards an 18-metre baseline road width is intended to ensure that future urban centres are adequately equipped to handle rising vehicular loads, public transport corridors, and sustainable streetscapes. Urban development experts believe that such mandates can prevent the bottleneck scenarios that plague older parts of Pune, while also integrating climate-responsive features like green verges and stormwater infrastructure. However, urban planners caution that the implementation must be context-sensitive. In peri-urban areas where plots are fragmented and densities are lower, carving out 18-metre-wide roads may lead to increased displacement or slow down approvals due to land acquisition complexities. While the wider road widths promise long-term mobility benefits, retrofitting existing plans can disrupt well-developed stakeholder negotiations and delay housing supply.
Beyond road widths, broader infrastructural needs are also on the policy radar. A senior state official highlighted that PMRDA would soon require over 2,000 million cubic feet (TMC) of water annually to meet its projected urban demand. During discussions, assurances were given that a separate state-level meeting will be held to prioritise water supply provisioning, especially in areas under high-density development zones. Despite the upheaval in planning schemes, the authority has made visible strides in infrastructure execution. PMRDA has already completed 140 roadwork projects, with many still under the defect liability period—a mechanism that mandates contractors to repair any post-construction damage. The public has been encouraged to report potholes or quality issues through the PMRDA’s portal, ensuring accountability in asset maintenance.
The preference for TP schemes over development plans also marks a significant philosophical shift in how urban expansion is managed in the state. Unlike traditional DPs, which are long-term vision documents often marred by delays and poor implementation, TP schemes are plot-level, implementable blueprints. These schemes enable micro-level interventions and phased infrastructure rollout, potentially offering a more agile and inclusive planning pathway. From a sustainability standpoint, experts advocate that road redesign and TP schemes should not merely focus on vehicular efficiency but also promote non-motorised transport, access to green spaces, and climate resilience. The new road mandate offers a rare opportunity to integrate net-zero principles—like permeable pavements, tree-lined boulevards, and equitable public transport corridors—into Pune’s urban DNA.
As Pune’s development frontier pushes outward into PMRDA’s jurisdiction, how these planning recalibrations unfold will significantly influence the region’s urban trajectory. While the transition poses short-term uncertainty for stakeholders, including landowners, developers, and residents, it also presents a chance to rethink how India’s mid-sized cities grow—making them smarter, more inclusive, and environmentally resilient. For now, planners await clarity from state authorities on whether the six town planning schemes will require complete redrafting or can be amended to fit the new road-width framework. The final decision could set a precedent for how future growth is balanced with equity, climate responsiveness, and long-term liveability across one of Maharashtra’s most dynamic urban zones.
