Pimpri Chinchwad: Citizen Voices Will Shape Durga Tekdi’s Redevelopment, Says PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh

Pimpri, 25th March 2025: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is committed to ensuring that the redevelopment of Durga Tekdi preserves its natural character while integrating citizen feedback into the planning process. “The suggestions received from today’s workshop will be given due consideration as we move forward with the Durga Tekdi redevelopment. Citizen participation is crucial in shaping a nature-sensitive and people-friendly urban forest,” said PCMC Commissioner and Administrator Shekhar Singh.

To initiate an open dialogue with residents, PCMC organized a ‘Durga Tekdi Garden Design Thinking Workshop’ on Sunday, March 23, at Durga Tekdi. The workshop was aimed at gathering valuable input from the community regarding their expectations and ideas for the site’s redevelopment. Commissioner Singh addressed the gathering and reaffirmed PCMC’s vision to create more green lungs in the city.

The workshop was attended by Additional Commissioner Pradip Jambhale Patil, Deputy Commissioner Umesh Dakhane, and several other municipal officers and staff. Commissioner Singh shared that the city recently inaugurated a large-scale urban forest at Talwade and is planning three more such green spaces. “Our goal is to make Pimpri Chinchwad a city of urban forests. Durga Tekdi is an important part of this vision, and we will ensure that its redevelopment is both sustainable and inclusive,” he said.

The interactive session saw active participation from citizens and environmental groups. Architect Rahul Kadri, Wide Angle Forum’s Priya Gokhale, Centre for Environment Education’s Sanskriti Menon, Satish Awate, and representatives of various NGOs engaged in meaningful discussions with officials. Commissioner Singh addressed their queries and suggestions in detail.

Following the workshop, Singh also inspected key areas of Durga Tekdi.
Commissioner Interacts with Citizens During Morning Walk
Before the workshop began, early morning visitors to Durga Tekdi had a unique opportunity to interact directly with PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh during their morning walk. This informal engagement was part of the CHDC project and allowed residents to share thoughts and concerns on various civic topics in a relaxed setting.