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• Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved the process to prepare a new Development Plan (DP) for 23 villages merged into the city limits.
• The move follows the Maharashtra government's decision to appoint PMC as the sole planning authority for these areas, replacing the earlier dual-authority system.
• The fresh plan will focus on road networks, public amenities, infrastructure, land use, and future urban development.
• Residents of the merged villages have long sought a structured planning framework to address civic and infrastructure gaps.
• The proposed DP is expected to provide greater clarity on development permissions and support planned growth in Pune's expanding suburbs.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved a proposal to begin preparing a fresh Development Plan (DP) for the 23 villages that were merged into the city's limits in 2021. The decision, cleared by the General Body, marks an important step towards planned development in areas that have witnessed rapid residential and commercial growth over the past few years.
With the approval in place, PMC will now initiate the statutory process required for preparing the draft development plan. The exercise will include planning for roads, public infrastructure, open spaces, amenities, utilities, land reservations, and zoning regulations that will guide future development across the merged villages.
The proposal gained significance after the Maharashtra government recently designated PMC as the sole planning authority for these areas. Earlier, planning powers were held by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), while civic services were provided by PMC. The overlapping jurisdiction often led to delays and uncertainty in planning approvals, infrastructure execution, and development decisions.
A development plan previously prepared by PMRDA had faced objections from residents, elected representatives, and stakeholders. Concerns were raised regarding land reservations, infrastructure provisions, and the overall planning approach. Following these objections, the state government withdrew the earlier planning process and entrusted PMC with full planning authority for the merged villages.
The 23 villages have emerged as some of Pune's fastest-growing residential locations, driven by housing demand, improving connectivity, and the city's continued expansion beyond its traditional limits. Areas within the merged villages have attracted significant residential development, but infrastructure growth has often struggled to keep pace with population growth.
Residents have repeatedly highlighted issues such as inadequate roads, traffic congestion, water supply shortages, drainage challenges, sewage infrastructure gaps, and the lack of public amenities. Local representatives have also pushed for a comprehensive development framework that includes schools, healthcare facilities, gardens, playgrounds, community spaces, and improved transport infrastructure.
Before receiving final approval from the General Body, the proposal had been cleared by PMC's City Improvement Committee. Civic officials believe that a fresh development plan prepared by the municipal corporation will be better aligned with local requirements and ongoing infrastructure projects in the merged areas.
The planning exercise is expected to play a key role in regulating future construction activity and ensuring balanced urban growth. It will also provide clarity on permissible land use, building regulations, road alignments, and reservations for public facilities, helping both residents and developers understand the long-term vision for these areas.
PMC has already increased its focus on the development of merged villages through infrastructure investments and budgetary allocations for roads, water supply networks, sewage systems, and civic amenities. A formal development plan is expected to provide the framework needed to prioritise and coordinate these projects more effectively.
The approval comes at a time when Pune continues to witness outward urban expansion, with several peripheral areas becoming important residential and investment destinations. Urban planners believe that a well-structured development plan will be crucial to ensuring that future growth in the merged villages takes place in an organised and sustainable manner rather than through piecemeal development.
Once prepared, the draft Development Plan will undergo the required review and public consultation process before being finalised, giving residents and stakeholders an opportunity to submit suggestions and objections.
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