Pune: PMRDA Gets Green Signal for Four Town Planning Schemes; Two Still Await Clearance

Pune, 22nd June 2025: The Urban Development Department has approved four of the six long-pending town planning (TP) schemes submitted by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) over a year ago.

The cleared projects — Autade Handewadi, two schemes in Holkarwadi, and Vadachiwadi — together span nearly 520 hectares. These approvals are expected to pave the way for faster urban development across key growth corridors in the Pune Metropolitan Region.

However, two proposals remain unresolved. The Maan-Mhalunge scheme, once projected as a model initiative in 2018, is still under review. Meanwhile, the Manjari Khurd-Kolwadi proposal has been rejected on technical grounds, particularly due to irregularities in plot boundaries. PMRDA officials said the Manjari scheme would need to be revised and resubmitted for consideration.

A senior official from PMRDA expressed disappointment over the slow pace of clearances. “These proposals have been pending for far too long. Given their importance to regional growth, they should have been cleared months ago,” the official said, highlighting that the delays have slowed infrastructure and real estate activity in the affected areas.

The Maan-Mhalunge plan, which covers around 250 hectares, had initially been approved but had to be revised after it was found that several plots were demarcated on flood-prone areas. The Manjari Khurd-Kolwadi proposal, which covers 233.35 hectares, is now expected to be reworked and resubmitted. A formal notification on the approved schemes and the Manjari rejection is likely next week.

Residents and developers have voiced growing concerns over the prolonged approval process. A resident of Manjari said, “If the scheme has to go back to the drawing board, nothing will move forward this year. The landowners will continue to remain uncertain about the future of their properties.”

A resident from Holkarwadi added that the uncertainty has led to delays in private construction plans. “Developers are waiting for clarity. Once the scheme is approved, infrastructure work will begin, and the area will benefit from improved connectivity through the ring road.”

A developer planning a housing project in Holkarwadi echoed this view: “Timely approvals are critical. Once we get the green light, we can begin construction and offer better infrastructure to residents.”

PMRDA had earlier included 15 new TP schemes in its latest budget, signaling a fresh focus on planned urban expansion. These schemes are being aligned with the proposed 82-km ring road, a key infrastructure project expected to facilitate structured growth across nearly 5,000 hectares in the metropolitan region.

Officials warned that further delays in state-level clearances could potentially stall the release of central infrastructure funds, which would, in turn, delay ongoing and upcoming development projects.