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The Union government has approved infrastructure projects worth INR 1,290 crore for Pune, covering water supply augmentation in newly merged areas and flood mitigation works across the city. The approval was granted during the first apex committee meeting under the Urban Challenge Fund chaired by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Of the total allocation, INR 890 crore has been sanctioned for a drinking water project covering 12 merged villages in the Khadakwasla-Nanded belt, while INR 400 crore has been earmarked for flood control measures at 335 flood-prone locations in Pune. The water project includes a 200 MLD treatment plant, transmission and distribution pipelines, and smart metering infrastructure intended to serve nearly 7.78 lakh residents until 2052. The projects come amid continued concerns over water quality, uneven civic infrastructure in merged areas, and recurring urban flooding during the monsoon season.
The Centre has approved water supply and flood mitigation projects worth INR 1,290 crore for Pune under the Urban Challenge Fund, providing financial support for civic infrastructure works being undertaken by the Pune Municipal Corporation in merged villages and flood-prone parts of the city. The approval was granted during the first apex committee meeting chaired by the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs earlier this week. Advertisement
According to civic officials, INR 890 crore has been sanctioned for a comprehensive water supply project in 12 merged villages located in the Khadakwasla-Nanded belt. The project will cover Khadakwasla, Nanded, Nandoshi, Sanasnagar, Kirkitwadi, Dhayri, Narhe, Jambhulwadi, Kolewadi, Mangdewadi, Nimbalkarwadi and Bhilarewadi. Several of these localities had reported cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome during 2025, with civic authorities previously linking the outbreak to inadequate access to purified drinking water infrastructure.
The proposed scheme includes the construction of a 200 MLD water purification plant, a 71-km transmission main line and a 390-km water distribution network. The PMC has also proposed a SCADA and AMR-based smart metering system as part of the project. Civic officials stated that the infrastructure has been planned to cater to an estimated population of 7.78 lakh residents until 2052. At present, several merged villages depend on local wells and tanker supplies, with only basic chlorination arrangements available in some areas.
The PMC informed that water supply works are already underway in seven merged villages, while detailed project reports for 25 villages have been prepared. Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram had earlier stated that preliminary work in remaining merged areas is expected to begin by August. Residents in multiple peripheral localities have continued to demand regular piped water supply after their inclusion within PMC limits over the past few years.
In addition to the water infrastructure allocation, the Centre has approved INR 400 crore for flood mitigation measures in Pune. The PMC has identified 335 flood-prone locations across the city where storm-water drainage upgrades and preventive works are planned. The civic body has been implementing flood-control measures in phases following repeated incidents of waterlogging during heavy rainfall in recent monsoon seasons.
Earlier flood mitigation proposals prepared by the civic administration included drainage upgrades, construction of box drains, gabion walls, retaining structures and desilting works in vulnerable areas including Sinhagad Road and Ektanagari. PMC officials stated that the newly approved funding would accelerate ongoing and planned projects aimed at reducing urban flooding and improving civic resilience during the monsoon.
The PMC further stated that around 85 per cent work under its equal water supply scheme in the old city areas has already been completed, with the full project expected to become operational by August 2026. Additional Commissioner Pavneet Kaur said the latest approvals represented an important step in strengthening long-term urban infrastructure planning for Pune.
Source- PTI
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