Pune: Civic Sports Infrastructure Hit as Six Facilities Sealed, Fresh Tenders Delayed
Pune, 15th September 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has sealed six sports complexes and facilities across the city over outstanding dues and violations of contractual conditions, even as the civic administration has failed to complete the valuation and fresh tendering process after the expiry of existing contracts.
The information came to light in a reply submitted by the PMC administration to a question raised by corporator Suraj Lokhande.
According to the civic administration, Pune’s development plan has 200 reservations for sports-related purposes, including 163 playgrounds, 35 children’s playgrounds, one aquatic sports complex and one site reserved for water sports. As per the computerised records of the Property Management Department, 252 sites have been acquired and handed over to the Sports Department.
However, the civic administration’s response does not provide clear details on the protection of these properties, their current status or action taken to prevent encroachments. Responsibility for these aspects has been assigned to the Property Management, Construction and Sports departments.
Six sports facilities have been sealed due to outstanding dues and breaches of contractual conditions. Two of these are located in Wadgaonsheri Budruk, while one each is in Somwar Peth, Yerawada, Bopodi and Warje.
The lapses have raised questions over the PMC’s sports administration, even as the civic body has repeatedly announced plans to provide quality sports infrastructure to athletes.
The administration has admitted that the valuation and fresh tendering process has not been completed despite the expiry of existing contracts. It said fresh tenders could not be floated in the absence of valuation.
Over the past five financial years, the PMC acquired 68,002.76 sq m of land through TDR or financial compensation. Of this, 36,389.73 sq m was acquired through TDR compensation for reservations meant for playgrounds, according to an annexure submitted with the reply.
The civic administration has defended keeping some sports complexes operational, stating that their closure would inconvenience sportspersons. However, the delay in completing the valuation and tendering process has raised concerns over the management of civic sports facilities and has ultimately resulted in several facilities being sealed.
The developments have also highlighted the lack of timely action by the civic administration to ensure continuity of contracts and uninterrupted access to sports infrastructure for citizens and athletes.
