Maharashtra Government Hands Over Planning Authority of 117 Villages to MSRDC, Impacting Pune Ring Road Development
In an impactful move, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has been given Special Planning Authority (SPA) for 117 villages within Pune’s metropolitan region. This decision impacts the ongoing Pune Ring Road project, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance connectivity across the region.
The Pune Ring Road project, which spans 172 kilometers and promises to streamline traffic flow, has been planned under the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) model. MSRDC, already overseeing the development and execution of the project, will now take on additional responsibilities regarding land use and urban planning in these newly designated areas.
These 117 villages, situated within a one-kilometer radius of the proposed ring road, cover an area of 668 square kilometers. The villages fall under several talukas, including Haveli, Bhor, Purandar, Mulshi, and Velhe. With MSRDC’s new authority, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) will no longer have building permission rights in these areas, effectively halting PMRDA’s planned development for these parts of the Pune metropolitan region.
This move is seen as a way to streamline the development process for the ring road. However, it has raised concerns about overlapping responsibilities between MSRDC and PMRDA, creating potential challenges in governance and transparency. Experts predict that the new arrangement could lead to administrative conflicts, especially with the approval of PMRDA’s Draft Development Plan (DP) for the region already delayed due to ongoing legal proceedings.
The MSRDC’s comprehensive plan, which also includes the creation of two Economic Development Centers (EDCs) within these villages, is designed to boost local economies and ensure that the ring road project benefits surrounding areas. One EDC will serve 62 villages in the Haveli, Bhor, and Purandar taluks, while the other will cater to 55 villages in the Haveli, Mulshi, and Velhe taluks. These centers aim to foster sustainable growth and support the future development of the region.
As construction for the Pune Ring Road is set to begin soon, the MSRDC’s new planning authority is expected to accelerate the project, but the coming months will be critical in assessing the broader impact of this decision. The situation remains a topic of interest for local residents, developers, and policymakers, who are closely monitoring how this shift will affect Pune’s long-term urban growth and infrastructure planning.
As the MSRDC assumes greater control over the region’s development, it will need to navigate complex political and administrative challenges, ensuring that the vision for Pune’s future remains clear and achievable. The resolution of these issues will be crucial for the successful completion of the Pune Ring Road and its potential to reshape the region’s infrastructure landscape.
