PUNE: During a recent review meeting on civic and infrastructure matters, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the urban development department to expedite the clearance of the Maan-Mhalunge town planning scheme in Hinjewadi, according to senior officials from the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).
“The CM specifically instructed department officials to address the delays and ensure the proposal is processed without further setbacks,” said a senior PMRDA official who attended last week’s meeting.
The PMRDA has received technical approval for four of the six proposed town planning schemes from the urban development department (UDD), but government notifications are still awaited. The Maan-Mhalunge scheme, initiated in 2018, is currently under review, while the Manjari Khurd-Kolwadi proposal has been rejected due to plot demarcation issues and must be resubmitted. “We anticipate overcoming the remaining obstacles for the Maan-Mhalunge scheme shortly,” the official noted.
“The Maan-Mhalunge scheme had previously received clearance, but revisions were necessary after certain plots were identified along flood lines. The approved town planning schemes, Autade Handewadi, Holkarwadi (two separate plans), and Vadachiwadi, are awaiting final notifications from the state government,” explained a UDD insider.
The ongoing delays, partially attributed to last year’s Lok Sabha and assembly elections, have hindered development within the Pune Metropolitan Region. “It remains unclear why these proposals are delayed, especially since they are crucial growth centers. They should have been prioritized,” remarked another PMRDA official.
Earlier this year, the PMRDA granted in-principle approval for an additional 15 town planning schemes. These developments follow the Gujarat model, in which landowners receive 50% of the developed land in the same region. Each of the five approved schemes is also expected to secure Rs 25 crore in central infrastructure support, while the PMRDA has committed Rs 125 crore from its own budget for these initiatives.
The prolonged delays have raised concerns among landowners. Mohit Mehta, a resident of Manjari whose plot is designated for development, expressed, “If the proposal has to be resubmitted, no project will be developed on our land this year.”
PMRDA officials warned that further delays in obtaining government clearance could jeopardize the allocation of central funds. These schemes are pivotal to the draft development plan approved early last year, which aims to facilitate structured growth across 5,000 hectares along the proposed 82-km ring road.
