Pune High-Rise Development Faces Legal Challenge Over Increased FSI and Infrastructure Capacity
Pune, 1st October 2026: Former Pune mayor and former Rajya Sabha MP Vandana Chavan, along with four others, has approached the Bombay High Court challenging provisions that allow increased Floor Space Index (FSI) and construction potential in Pune.
The petition challenges Chapters 6 and 7 of the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR), 2020, arguing that they have substantially increased the permissible construction potential in the city without adequate assessment of Pune’s carrying capacity, population density, infrastructure capacity and environmental conditions.
The petitioners have raised concerns over the existing pressure on Pune’s water supply, sewage treatment, transportation, solid waste management, open spaces and air quality, besides the city’s vulnerability to climate-related impacts. They have argued that permitting additional construction capacity could result in a further increase in population and place additional pressure on civic infrastructure.
Under the UDCPR, provisions allow ancillary FSI of up to 60% of the proposed FSI for residential use and up to 80% for non-residential use. The regulations also provide for additional FSI for different categories of projects. Similar concerns about the impact of these provisions on Pune’s infrastructure and carrying capacity have previously been raised by Chavan.
The petitioners have sought the quashing of Chapters 6 and 7 of the UDCPR and requested that, until the necessary studies are completed, construction potential under the 2017 Development Control Regulations (DCPR) be retained.
They have also sought a comprehensive assessment of Pune’s carrying capacity, projected population, infrastructure, transportation systems, environmental conditions and climate impacts before further development permissions are granted.
The petition comes amid continuing concerns over the impact of increased FSI and high-rise development on Pune’s civic infrastructure. In September, Chavan had also urged the Pune Municipal Corporation to assess infrastructure capacity before granting permissions for new construction under the increased FSI provisions.
