Pune: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Cancels PMRDA Development Plan, Orders Fresh Process
Pune: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Cancels PMRDA Development Plan, Orders Fresh Process
Pune: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has officially cancelled the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) Development Plan (DP) covering 6,000 square kilometers. The state government has now ordered a fresh process for the region’s development planning, leading to possible delays in road mapping, zoning, and reservations.
The PMRDA recently received an official directive from the government, and authorities will now have to redraft the development framework.
Background of the PMRDA Development Plan
The PMRDA was established in 2015 to enhance the urban infrastructure of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and surrounding areas. In 2017, the government announced its intention to draft a comprehensive development plan, which was later released as a proposed draft on August 2, 2021.
Over 67,000 objections and suggestions were received from citizens. While the plan awaited final approval, legal challenges were raised, and a petition was filed in the High Court questioning its execution. In October 2022, the High Court imposed a stay on any further progress, leaving the plan in limbo.
With the legal deadlock unresolved, the Maharashtra government decided to scrap the entire plan. CM Devendra Fadnavis has instructed the PMRDA to inform the High Court about the cancellation, which is expected to nullify the petitions filed against the DP.
What’s Next for PMRDA’s Development Plan?
A new framework will now be designed and submitted to the state government. The authorities will outline necessary modifications in accordance with legal requirements.
- The original concept of the plan will remain unchanged.
- However, new 18-meter-wide roads will be introduced.
- Certain land reservations will be reassigned.
- Key issues that led to legal challenges in the previous draft will be rectified.
Why Was the Development Plan Scrapped?
Since the announcement of PMRDA’s DP in 2017, various policy changes, urban planning updates, and infrastructure demands have emerged. While the state government and urban development department employed advanced planning techniques, delays in execution ultimately forced a complete restart.
With the cancellation of the existing DP, planning will have to begin from scratch, resetting Pune’s long-term urban development roadmap.
