Pune PMRDA Fails as Planning Authority

A controversy has erupted in Pune over the planning framework for the Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR). Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC) member Vasant Sudam Bhase has alleged that the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has failed to discharge its statutory responsibility as a Special Planning Authority (SPA).

Bhase has demanded that the State government initiate the process of preparing the Development Plan (DP) for the entire region through the MPC instead. The issue is currently before the Bombay High Court, with a division bench directing the State to file its reply affidavit to Bhase’s petition within three weeks.

The PMRDA was entrusted with the role of coordinated development of the PMR, including infrastructure development and assistance to the MPC in preparing an integrated DP. However, Bhase argues that PMRDA’s role should now return to its original metropolitan development mandate rather than continuing indefinitely as an SPA.

Bhase contends that PMRDA has failed as a SPA in the planning process, and the three-year statutory period has expired. He has called on the government to take necessary action as prescribed under the law and initiate the preparation of the DP for the entire PMR through the MPC.

The dispute centres on the legal authority and procedure governing metropolitan planning. Bhase has referred to Section 21(4) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, arguing that the statutory period for PMRDA to undertake the planning exercise as an SPA has expired.

The PMRDA had earlier prepared and published a draft DP, but the process became embroiled in judicial and administrative complications, and the draft had to be withdrawn. The PMRDA’s own website currently identifies preparation of the DP as one of its major planning assignments.

Bhase has warned that allowing successive planning processes to become entangled in legal and administrative disputes could ultimately affect citizens across the metropolitan region. The matter is listed for August 27, 2026, and the State government is expected to file its reply affidavit soon.

The Pune Metropolitan Region is a critical area for development, with a large population and growing infrastructure needs. The failure of the PMRDA to discharge its responsibility as a SPA has significant implications for the region’s development.

The MPC and PMRDA have important roles to play in the coordinated development of the PMR. The MPC is responsible for preparing an integrated DP, while the PMRDA is responsible for implementing the plan. However, the current dispute has highlighted the need for clarity on the legal authority and procedure governing metropolitan planning.

In conclusion, the failure of the PMRDA to discharge its responsibility as a SPA has significant implications for the development of the Pune Metropolitan Region. The State government must take necessary action to initiate the preparation of the DP for the entire PMR through the MPC, and ensure that the planning process is carried out in a transparent and efficient manner.

The outcome of this dispute will have a significant impact on the citizens of the Pune Metropolitan Region, and it is essential that the government takes prompt action to resolve the issue. The development of the region depends on the effective planning and implementation of infrastructure development, and any delay or dispute can have far-reaching consequences.