Pune: PMRDA Learns from Past Mistakes, Begins 25-Year Master Plan for 600 Villages
Pune, 29th June 2026: Learning from the shortcomings that led to the cancellation of its earlier Draft Development Plan (DP), the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has initiated the preparation of a comprehensive Structure Plan to ensure the planned development of nearly 600 villages over the next 20 to 25 years.
The authority has engaged subject experts to prepare the long-term blueprint, focusing on key urban challenges such as traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and rapid urbanisation. Unlike the earlier Draft Development Plan, which was scrapped following major irregularities, the new Structure Plan will adopt a scientific, technology-driven, and data-based approach to guide future growth across the PMRDA region.
As part of the transport planning component, PMRDA will identify future urban growth corridors and design a road network based on projected traffic demand. Besides major highways, the plan will define the hierarchy of arterial, sub-arterial, and local roads while proposing future public transport infrastructure and sustainable mobility solutions. It will also prioritise transport projects, formulate funding strategies, and establish monitoring mechanisms for their implementation.
Environmental planning will be another key pillar of the Structure Plan. PMRDA will undertake scientific studies of hilltops and hill slopes to classify and protect ecologically sensitive areas. The authority will also identify suitable locations for solid waste management and sewage treatment facilities to support future urban expansion.
The plan will recommend groundwater recharge measures and long-term water conservation strategies to address growing water scarcity. It will include the mapping and protection of rivers, streams, lakes, forests, and other environmentally sensitive zones, along with identifying land for large public parks and open spaces.
Geographic Information System (GIS) experts will play a central role in preparing the plan by developing an integrated GIS data model for the PMRDA region. A unified database containing geographical and statistical information will be created to support evidence-based planning. The system will integrate transport, land-use, and environmental data to enable advanced network, accessibility, and land suitability analyses.
Satellite imagery and remote sensing technology will also be used to prepare updated base maps and monitor changes across the region over time.
Data analysts will be responsible for collecting, validating, and integrating geographical information from various government departments and field surveys. Using satellite imagery and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) drawings, they will prepare accurate digital maps and thematic layers related to transport, land use, and environmental features. They will also identify and rectify gaps in the GIS database, ensure periodic updates, and verify field data collected through GPS surveys before incorporating it into the master digital map.
Officials said the Structure Plan is intended to create a sustainable, technology-driven framework for the Pune Metropolitan Region, helping prevent planning lapses while supporting balanced, resilient, and future-ready urban growth over the coming decades.
