Pune: PMC to Introduce Strict Construction Norms to Protect Metro Tunnels After Incident in Old Wada Areas

Pune, 26th March 2026: In a bid to safeguard underground metro infrastructure, the Pune Municipal Corporation is drafting a comprehensive set of regulations to govern construction activities above metro tunnels, particularly in the city’s densely built Old Wada areas.

Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram said the proposed guidelines will impose stricter controls on redevelopment and new construction projects situated above underground metro corridors. The move is aimed at mitigating structural risks arising from construction activity in congested localities.

The decision follows a recent incident in Shukrawar Peth, where borewell drilling at a wada redevelopment site allegedly caused damage to an underground metro tunnel along the Swargate–Shivajinagar route. Officials detected water seepage inside the tunnel, triggering immediate inspections and corrective measures. A police case has since been registered against the property owner and the contractor involved.

In the aftermath, civic authorities, along with Maha Metro, have begun reviewing ongoing construction projects across the Old Wada areas. The underground stretch between Shivajinagar and Swargate, spanning nearly six kilometres, runs about 100 feet below ground and passes through some of Pune’s most densely populated and historically significant neighbourhoods.

Officials noted that rapid redevelopment and construction activities, including borewell drilling, are increasing in these areas, heightening risks to underground infrastructure.

Under the proposed framework, any construction or redevelopment work above or near metro tunnels will require detailed technical scrutiny before approvals are granted. Developers will also need to obtain separate permissions from groundwater authorities for borewell drilling, in addition to standard building clearances.

The civic body is also considering making it mandatory for developers to secure approvals from metro authorities, submit structural safety assessments, and ensure technical supervision during construction.

Officials believe the new regulations will help balance urban redevelopment with the protection of critical public infrastructure, especially in Pune’s rapidly evolving Old Wada areas.