Pune : Army suggests FSI of 1 for notified civilian areas after voicing security concerns regarding removal of PCB civil area

The excision of the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) civil area has raised security concerns for the local military authority (LMA) in Dakshin (south) Maharashtra and Goa sub area. To protect its security establishments, the LMA has proposed an FSI (floor space index) of one.

The PCB has sent the chief secretary of Maharashtra a comprehensive 45-page draft proposal seeking the excision of civil areas; however, the LMA’s main argument is that “no excision without FSI restriction.” For commercial areas immediately surrounding its numerous sensitive installations and establishments, the Army has recommended an FSI of one.

The station commander (LMA) voiced security concerns regarding the excision of the civil area during the committee meeting on February 12 at the Ministry of Defence (MOD), South Block, according to the PCB CEO’s communication to the Maharashtra chief secretary. The committee’s decision to support “no excision without FSI restriction” was the primary point of contention. Additionally, the station commander reiterated during the VC with the MOD on March 4 that the FSI restriction should be maintained in light of security concerns, as documented in the committee meeting minutes.

The ratio of the total area to the built-up area is known as the FSI. Developers can erect more buildings by adding floors on a plot of land if the FSI is higher.

On the other hand, the LMA claimed in a letter sent on March 4 to the PCB CEO that the committee’s consensus is that there should be “no excision without FSI restriction.” Furthermore, as mentioned in the committee meeting minutes, the station commander (PCB) reiterated during the VC with the MOD on March 4 that the FSI restriction should be maintained in light of security concerns.

According to the LMA letter, Sadar Bazaar, which is situated in the eastern portion of the cantonment, is a well-known and extremely commercial area of Pune. With 218.676 acres, it is the largest notified civil area. Sadar Bazaar should be removed because it is very commercial, but with the following restrictions.

The letter also mentioned that some of the key HQ Southern Command establishments are located in the Bazaar area. These consist of the officers’ mess at HQ SC, the officers’ quarters, a vital supply depot, and so forth. It is suggested that an FSI restriction of one be applied to an area up to a minimum distance of 100 meters from outside the civil area boundary or from outside the civil area boundary to MG Road, whichever is higher, due to the area’s close proximity to significant defense establishments.

According to the LMA letter, excision is being suggested with certain limitations in order to allay the LMA’s serious security worries. The letter went on to say that the LMA wanted to use this as an opportunity to combine the cantonment and turn it into a military station in the future. The only way to accomplish this is to have separate pockets inside the cantonment, connected whenever possible by under and over-passes.