PUNE: Nearly eight years after its declaration, the draft development plan for the merged areas under Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been approved by the state government. The notification, published on Friday, invites public suggestions and objections for the next 60 days.
Civic officials stated that under Section 23(1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, PMC expressed its intention to prepare a draft development plan on June 28, 2018.
The proposal to merge 34 villages was ratified by PMC in 2013-14, with eleven areas incorporated into its jurisdiction in 2017. Among these, nine were partially merged, while Uruli Devachi and Phursungi were fully included. However, both areas were demerged in September 2024, leaving only nine areas subject to the draft development plan.
PMC, the planning authority, was tasked with preparing the development plan for the eleven villages, including Lohegaon (remaining area), Mundhwa (Keshavnagar), Hadapsar (entire Sadesataranali), Shivane (entire Uttamnagar), Shivane (remaining area), Ambegaon Khurd (remaining area), Undri (remaining area), Dhayari (remaining area), Ambegaon Budruk (remaining area), Phursungi (entire), and Uruli Devachi (entire).
The notification specified, “The planning authority could not publish the draft development plan within the designated timeframe (including extensions) up to March 2, 2024. The assistant director of town planning, Pune branch, was granted authority as the planning authority to execute statutory functions.”
The state has established a new municipal council for Phursungi and Uruli Devachi, excluding the garbage depot area. Therefore, the new development plan will apply to these regions.
PMC officials estimate that the combined population of the nine villages will be approximately six lakh by 2025, and with projected urban growth, a target population of eight lakh for 2035 has been set for planning facilities in the draft development plan.
