State government to halt Wakad project due to alleged irregularities: Dy CM Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra deputy chief minister and Pune’s guardian minister, announced that the state government has opted to halt the contentious TDR agreement pertaining to a reserved plot of land in the Wakad neighborhood of Pimpri Chinchwad due to claims of irregularities.

Pawar went on to say that the state government made this choice after consulting the chief secretary and a number of other officials, including those from the department of urban development, to confirm the specifics of the matter.

Opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar had accused irregularities in the agreement to transfer Development Rights (TDR) to a private builder against the development of reserved land for PMPML bus depot in Wakad area of Pimpri Chinchwad during the winter session of the Maharashtra state assembly. According to Wadettiwar’s allegations, the private builder stands to gain an estimated Rs 681 crore from the deal.

Shekhar Singh, the PCMC Commissioner, refuted the accusations, stating that the builder was granted amenity TDR in light of the project’s facilities.

The civic body intends to develop the 2.5 acres of land set aside for PMPML in Wakad into a 21-storey structure with the highest standards for design and on-site amenities.

The municipal corporation intends to construct a commercial complex above the PMPML depot with the goal of earning Rs 60 crore in revenue annually, as per the proposed plan.

The PCMC Commissioner had previously stated that the civic organization is attempting to examine the objections and will not move forward with the project even in the event that there is even the slightest uncertainty.