PUNE: The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) is seeking guidance from the state’s Urban Development Department (UDD) regarding the execution of the Maan-Mhalunge Town Planning Scheme (TPS-1). There is uncertainty whether the project will remain with the PMRDA or be taken over by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following the merger of Mhalunge village.
Officials have stated that a definitive decision from the state is necessary as the documentation for the 250-hectare scheme is nearing its final stages, ready for implementation.
Senior PMRDA officials mentioned that a formal request has been made to the UDD for clarity on the agency responsible for the scheme, which was initiated by PMRDA in 2017 and has been under its jurisdiction as the Special Planning Authority (SPA). “We need to know whether PMRDA will continue as the SPA and execute TPS-1 or if the PMC will assume responsibility after Mhalunge merges into its limits,” confirmed a PMRDA official.
The Maan-Mhalunge TPS-1 was designed as a flagship urban planning initiative for the expanding Hinjewadi region and has seen numerous discussions and redesigns over the years. An arbitrator was appointed to finalize plot reconstitution and introduce technical adjustments, including updated flood lines and infrastructure layouts, leading to a revised preliminary scheme that has been sent for state approval.
Despite the changes, PMRDA continues to act as the designated SPA to ensure the project’s continuity, which is now close to the implementation phase. The authority is urging the state to expedite the proposal so infrastructure development—such as roads, water supply, sewage networks, and public amenities—can commence.
Landowners in the Maan-Mhalunge region are pressing for swift approval of the scheme, expressing concerns over delays and uncertainty since the merger with PMC. The TPS-1 aims to facilitate development in the Hinjewadi-Maan-Mhalunge corridor and is anticipated to set a precedent for planned urban growth in the Pune Metropolitan Region.
At a recent meeting, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis instructed the UDD to expedite decisions on pending PMRDA planning proposals and to resolve them promptly.
Another PMRDA official remarked, “We have yet to receive clearance for this scheme, although four other schemes have been approved. The Chief Minister has urged the department to expedite this project’s approval.”
Citizens who have agreed to relinquish land for the project expressed their frustration over the lack of clarity from the state government. “We have been waiting for almost six years now. It’s frustrating not being able to utilize our land,” lamented a landowner from Mhalunge. Another beneficiary stated, “I’ve reached out to the PMRDA commissioner about the delays and the uncertainty, as I intended to sell the land for another purpose.”
