Pune: Wagholi Farmers Demand Cancellation of PMRDA Town Planning Scheme

Wagholi, 13th September 2025: Farmers from Wagholi have strongly opposed the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (PMRDA) proposed Town Planning (TP) scheme, demanding its cancellation over concerns of livelihood and compensation.

The objection was raised during a meeting at the PMRDA office on Friday, where officials presented details of the initial phase of the TP scheme. According to PMRDA, the plan aims to address the city’s rapid expansion and mounting traffic issues.

However, local farmers expressed confusion regarding the compensation mechanism and voiced fears of losing their land and livelihood. “The scheme should be scrapped to avoid possible problems,” several farmers asserted during the meeting.

Avinash Patil, Director of the Development-Permissions and Planning Department at PMRDA, said the administration has taken note of the concerns. “The benefits of the scheme were explained to the farmers in Wagholi, but they have demanded its cancellation. We have understood their position. Currently, the scheme is in the initial phase, and further action will be taken as per the farmers’ suggestions,” Patil said.

The TP scheme is being projected by PMRDA as a long-term measure to improve urban planning and infrastructure in Wagholi, which has seen significant growth in recent years. But with farmers holding firm on their stand, the proposal faces fresh uncertainty.