Confusion Grows as Pune Cantonment Plans FSI Increase Before PMC Merger Decision
Camp, 25th April 2026: A fresh proposal by the Pune Cantonment Board to revise construction norms has triggered uncertainty among residents and activists, as the long-pending merger of civilian areas with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) remains undecided.
According to the draft building bylaws, the board has proposed increasing the Floor Space Index (FSI) from 1 to 2 in select civilian pockets, while continuing to restrict it to 0.5 in designated bungalow zones. In addition, the FSI in the Mundhwa industrial area is proposed to be raised from 0.5 to 0.75. The proposal is currently awaiting approval from the Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE).
FSI is a key planning parameter that determines the total permissible built-up area on a plot. For instance, a 10,000 sq ft plot with an FSI of 2 would allow construction of up to 20,000 sq ft across multiple floors.
The proposed changes are expected to significantly impact development across nearly 250 acres of civilian land within the cantonment, covering around 2,500 properties spread across six wards.
Confirming the status, Cantonment Board CEO Vidyadhar Pawar said the revised bylaws have been submitted to the DGDE and are pending final approval.
Officials say the move is aimed at boosting redevelopment potential and responding to long-standing demands from residents seeking better utilisation of their properties. However, the timing of the proposal has drawn criticism, given that the state government is yet to take a call on the 2024 excision proposal to merge these civilian pockets with PMC limits.
If approved, the merger would transfer control of building permissions and development regulations to the PMC, making the current exercise potentially redundant, critics argue.
A senior official from the defence estates department indicated that no decision has been taken so far on the merger proposal, and the reasons for the delay remain unclear.
Civic activists have also raised concerns over the lack of policy clarity, pointing out that similar proposals in the past were never implemented. They expressed scepticism over whether the revised bylaws would see actual execution.
FSI has historically been a contentious issue in cantonment areas across India, with limited progress on reforms. In Pune Cantonment, unauthorised constructions and additional floors have already come up in several areas over the years, highlighting the gap between regulations and ground realities.
