PUNE: The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has failed to meet its extended deadline for drafting plans for 15 town planning (TP) schemes along the 128-km inner ring road.
A senior official indicated that the delay is largely due to ongoing opposition from villagers and unresolved issues concerning the long-delayed Maan–Mhalunge model TP scheme.
The official deadline expired on Monday, and PMRDA officials confirmed they could not move forward because local residents were unwilling to relinquish their land. The main obstacle remains the state government’s inaction on the Maan–Mhalunge model TP scheme, which PMRDA initiated years ago.
“If the Maan–Mhalunge scheme has stalled for years, how can we trust these new proposals?” farmers voiced their concerns at village meetings in Maval and nearby areas. This resistance has hindered PMRDA’s ability to demarcate land, conduct surveys, or develop draft layouts.
A senior PMRDA official explained that, following amendments in the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, the responsibility will now shift to the joint director of town planning. “Since the PMRDA could not complete the draft plan on time, it will now be up to the joint director to execute this task within a specified timeline,” he stated to TOI.
The 15 TP schemes were first proposed in October 2024 as part of a strategic plan to oversee development along the ring road and create infrastructure-ready towns. Initially anticipated for completion by August 2025, PMRDA received an extension until the end of November, but negotiations with villagers have reached a deadlock.
“Landowners have made it clear that they will not cooperate with any further TP initiatives until the state government approves the Maan–Mhalunge scheme,” another senior official disclosed. Of the six previous TP schemes undertaken by PMRDA, four received approval, one was canceled, and Maan–Mhalunge is still pending.
The strongest opposition has emerged in Maval taluka, where a proposed scheme includes a 65-meter-wide bypass road traversing Dhamane, Godumbare, Darumbre, Salumbre, Sangwade, and Nere. Despite the road being part of the state’s long-term strategy to alleviate congestion, villagers insist they will not give up agricultural land under any circumstances. PMRDA officials have reassured them that no schemes will advance without their agreement, acknowledging that drafting plans is unattainable without community consent.
With no resolution in sight, the town planning department will appoint officers to carry out the schemes within a set timeframe.
