Pune: Khadki Cantonment Board Proposes Merger of Civilian Areas with PMC
Pune, 25th December 2024: The Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) has put forward a proposal to the state government for the excision of 326 acres from its civilian pockets and their integration with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). This proposal comes after a series of consultations with key military and defence authorities, including the Southern Command, the Bombay Engineering Group, and the Ammunition Factory Khadki.
The civilian areas identified for this merger include parts of Khadki Bazaar, Sapras (Bombay Sappers), and Sangamwadi. If the proposal is approved, around 29,000 residents out of a total population of 60,000 will become part of the PMC jurisdiction.
Meenakshi Lohia, the CEO of Khadki Cantonment Board, explained, “Residents who wish to build structures within 100 meters of any Army establishment will need to obtain a no-objection certificate (NoC). This is part of the security protocols established by the Army.”
In early December, KCB officials met with representatives from the PMC to discuss the merger proposal. “We provided a detailed presentation and are awaiting feedback from PMC before submitting our final proposal to the state government,” Lohia added.
The central location of Khadki has made its civilian areas attractive for real estate development. However, officials anticipate that high-rise projects or large housing societies might face hurdles due to security concerns. A section of the board officials raised concerns about these potential challenges in development.
A senior Army officer emphasized the importance of security, saying, “The local military authority will carefully assess all construction proposals before granting any NoCs.”
The proposal now awaits approval from the state’s Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), which oversees the merging of cantonment areas with local municipal corporations.
According to Manoj Ranade, DMA Commissioner and Director, the discussions are still in the early stages. “We are gathering feedback from various municipal corporations in the state. Several factors need thorough review before making a decision on the merger,” he said.
