Pune Riverfront Plan Raises Red Flags over Reclamation of 1,544 Acres Land and Massive Construction
Pune,10th April 2026: The Mula-Mutha riverfront development project is set to create nearly 1,544 acres of new land through reclamation along the riverbed and banks, raising concerns about large-scale construction and its impact on the river ecosystem.
Under the river conservation, rejuvenation and beautification scheme, authorities plan to build embankments and carry out landfilling along the river.
The newly created land will be used for a range of infrastructure and public amenities, including boundary walls, walkways, steps, ghats, toilets, eateries, parking spaces, plazas and bridges.
In addition, around 180 acres of government land along the riverbanks will also be developed under the project. With an estimated cost of nearly Rs 5,000 crore, questions are being raised about whether the initiative could turn the riverfront into a “concrete jungle” rather than restoring its ecological balance.
Officials said that once concrete or stone embankments are constructed, about 625 hectares (1,544 acres) of land within the floodline will become available for use. This land is proposed to be utilised for revenue generation. The future control of both the reclaimed land and the adjoining 180 acres of government land is expected to rest with a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed for the project, along with administrative and political stakeholders, according to claims made by critics.
The plan also includes construction of parking areas, plazas and other infrastructure over a built-up area of around 13.83 lakh square metres (about 342 acres). Existing structures such as bridges, bunds, footpaths, roads, walls and ghats may be demolished and rebuilt as part of the project.
Notably, project documents indicate that nearly 80% of the total expenditure will be spent on construction activities. Critics have pointed out that there is no explicit mention of measures to clean or purify the river water in the proposal, raising questions about how the project would achieve true river rejuvenation.
