Pune: Despite Strong Opposition, PCMC Approves Lease of Punawale Education Land to Private Firm

Pimpri Chinchwad, 15th June 2026: Ignoring opposition from residents and corporators across party lines, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) General Body on Monday approved a proposal to lease a 0.91-hectare plot reserved for an educational institution in Punawale to a private organisation for 30 years.

The decision clears the way for the private entity to establish and operate an educational institution on the plot, which will be leased for Rs 7 crore. The proposal had earlier been referred to the General Body by the standing committee after residents raised objections.

The move had sparked strong opposition from local residents, who demanded that the civic body utilise the land to establish its own school on the lines of the CBSE school operated by PCMC in Wakad. Resident groups had also written to the municipal commissioner and chief minister seeking their intervention for the withdrawal of the proposal.

During the debate in the House on Monday, corporators argued that private school fees have become increasingly unaffordable for ordinary citizens and that the civic body should focus on creating quality and affordable educational facilities of its own.

Several members maintained that land reserved for public amenities should be used to strengthen civic infrastructure rather than being handed over to private institutions. They said a municipal school in the locality would ensure access to quality education for a larger section of residents.

All four corporators representing the Punawalr and nearby area, including BJP corporator Rahul Kalate, opposed the proposal. Kalate said Punawale was among the fastest-growing localities in the city and the demand for public amenities was expected to rise sharply in the coming years.

“Considering the pace of development in Punawale, the existing amenity spaces are likely to fall short. The municipal corporation should be creating additional public facilities instead of leasing reserved land to private organisations,” he said.

Despite the opposition, the proposal was approved by the General Body, paving the way for the long-term lease of the educational reservation plot to a private operator.