Maharashtra Government Hands Over Planning Authority of 117 Villages to MSRDC, Impacting Pune Ring Road Development

Pune, 29th November 2024: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has been designated as the Special Planning Authority for the Pune Ring Road project, a move that could reshape development planning in the Pune Metropolitan Region. This decision strips the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) of building permission rights for 117 villages within a one-kilometre radius on either side of the proposed 170-kilometre ring road.

The Pune Ring Road project, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal limits, will follow the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) model. MSRDC, already tasked with executing the project, will now assume additional responsibilities for regulating land use and development in these areas. The tenders for the road have been finalised, and construction is set to begin soon.

This decision comes just before the announcement of Assembly election dates, when the code of conduct is about to take effect, potentially disrupting PMRDA’s development plans for Pune, which spans a vast 7,000 sq km jurisdiction.

Established in 2015, PMRDA was entrusted with the planned development of Pune’s metropolitan region, including areas now impacted by the ring road. The authority had prepared a draft development plan (DP) for its jurisdiction, but approval has been delayed due to ongoing court proceedings.

With MSRDC now assuming planning rights for the 117 villages, experts predict significant challenges for PMRDA’s DP, as overlapping responsibilities may create administrative and logistical conflicts. Concerns about transparency and potential controversies have already begun to surface, especially regarding the management of development activities along the ring road corridor.

Impacted Villages:

The villages transferred under MSRDC’s planning authority span multiple talukas, including Haveli, Bhor, Purandar, Mulshi, and Velhe. These areas are expected to see rapid development driven by the ring road project, but questions remain about how the competing visions of MSRDC and PMRDA will be reconciled.

Villages in Haveli Taluka: Gogalwadi, Malkhed, Mandvi Khurd, Mandvi Budruk, Khadakwadi, Manerwadi, Khanapur, Thoptewadi, Gore Khurd, Gorhe Budruk, Agalambe, Jambhali, Bhagatwadi, Ghera Sinhagad, Donje, Wanjalewadi, Khadewadi, Bahuli, Sonapur, Wardade, Sambarewadi, Khamgaon Maval, Mogarwadi, Kudje, Mokarwadi.

Villages in Bhor Taluka: Bhambavade, Bhongwali, Dhangwadi, Gunand, Kenjal, Khadki, Morwadi, Nhavi, Nimde, Nigde, Pande, Panjalwadi, Rajapur, Sangvi Khurd, Sarole, Savardare, Taparewadi, Umbre, Vathar Khurd, Wagajwadi, Degaon, Didghar, Jambhali, Kambre, Kanjale, Karandi, Ketkawane, Khopi, Kolwadi, Kurungwadi, Kusgaon, Malegaon, Parwadi, Ranje, Salavade, Sangvi Budruk, Sonwadi, Virwadi.

Villages in Purandar Taluka: Kodit Khurd, Pur, Pokhar, Warvadi, Kumbhoshi, Somurdi, Gherapurandar, Supe Khurd, Mislawadi, Thapewadi, Bhivari, Bhiwadi, Bahirwadi, Bhopgaon, Patharwadi, Pimple, Panvadi, Hiware, Kodit Budruk, Oscarwadi, Chambli, Borhalewadi, Garde.

Villages in Mulshi Taluka: Mutha, Botarwadi, Andgaon, Kharawade, Saiv Khurd, Katawadi, Dawje, Malegaon, Wajale, Watunde, Jatede, Chinchwad, Kondhur, Chikhli Budruk, Belawde, Darawali, Bharekarwadi, Morewadi, Vitthalwadi, Temghar, Khechare, Marnewadi, Kondhawale.

Villages in Velhe Taluka: Varasgaon, Kuran Budruk, Mose Budruk, Saiv Budruk, Osade, Nigde Mose.

The decision to grant MSRDC special planning authority is seen as an attempt to streamline the development of the ring road. However, critics warn that it may lead to legal challenges and delays in urban planning efforts. The situation also raises questions about the balance of power between MSRDC and PMRDA, as both agencies seek to influence the future of Pune’s metropolitan growth.

As the ring road project plays a crucial role in Pune’s decongestion, the unfolding of this administrative conflict will be closely watched by policymakers, developers, and residents alike.