Pune, PCMC Set for Civic Polls as Four-Member Ward Structure Gets Official Nod

Pune, June 10, 2025: The long-pending municipal elections in Maharashtra are finally moving forward. The State Election Commission has started the process of restructuring wards across all municipal corporations. On Tuesday, the Urban Development Department issued official orders to begin forming these wards, marking a crucial step toward holding local elections that have been delayed for nearly three years.

Four-Member Ward System to Be Followed Across Maharashtra

According to the new government order, all municipal corporations classified under Classes A, B, and C will adopt a four-member ward system. Municipal Commissioners have been asked to draw up draft ward structures and decide how many members each ward will have. The state has instructed that this process be carried out transparently and in line with the standards used in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

Pune, Nagpur in Class A Cities

The cities have been grouped as follows:

Class A: Pune, Nagpur

Class B: Thane, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad

Class C: Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Sambhajinagar, Dombivli-Chhatrapati Kalyan

Class D: 19 smaller municipal bodies

The number of members per ward will remain the same as specified in the September 2022 notification.

Exceptions Allowed: Wards with 3 or 5 Members

While the standard will be four members per ward, some flexibility has been provided:

One ward may have 3 members if another has 5.

Up to two wards with 3 members are allowed, depending on need.

Authorities must ensure that ward boundaries maintain geographical consistency, do not divide communities, and are convenient for residents.

Ward Boundaries to Follow Census and Google Maps

The latest census figures will be used for deciding ward populations. The Municipal Corporations will start the ward formation from the north of the city and move clockwise to the south-west. Boundaries will follow major roads, rivers, railway lines, and flyovers. To ensure clarity, all ward borders will be marked using Google Maps.

Step-by-Step Ward Formation Process

1. Draft Creation: Municipal Commissioners will prepare and submit draft ward maps to the State Election Commission.
2. Review: The Commission will review and approve the draft.
3. Public Display: The approved draft will be made public for citizen feedback.
4. Suggestions & Objections: Citizens can send their responses to the designated officer.
5. Final Submission: The final proposal will be submitted to the Commission.
6. Final Approval: The State Election Commission will give the green signal.
7. Final Declaration: Municipal Commissioners will officially announce the new ward structure.

With this announcement, Maharashtra has officially resumed the municipal election process, bringing local governance back on track after a long pause.