Pune: A proposal to the state urban development department from Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) will seek the transfer of 117 villages under Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation’s (MSRDC) special planning authority for the Pune Ring Road project back to its jurisdiction.If approved, these villages will be included in the structural development plan PMRDA is preparing for the metropolitan region. Officials said the move will remove overlapping jurisdictions, bring uniformity in planning, zoning and building permissions, simplify approvals for residents, and ensure integrated infrastructure development in the region.The proposal was approved at a recent PMRDA authority meeting and will now be forwarded to the urban development department for a final decision.PMRDA commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari said, “The authority committee has decided to transfer the 117 villages currently under MSRDC back to PMRDA. The proposal will be sent to the urban development department and we are hopeful of a positive decision from the state government.”The villages, spread across nearly 668sqkm in Haveli, Bhor, Mulshi, Purandar and Velhe talukas, were brought under MSRDC’s special planning authority by the then state government to facilitate implementation of the proposed 137km ring road around Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.Though the villages came under MSRDC’s planning jurisdiction, they geographically remained within the PMRDA region, resulting in overlapping jurisdictions and concerns over differing development control regulations. Officials said the dual-authority arrangement created administrative and technical challenges in planning, land use, construction permissions and infrastructure development.PMRDA officials said residents of these villages currently have to approach MSRDC offices in Mumbai for planning-related permissions. Bringing the villages back under PMRDA will make approvals more accessible while ensuring that a single planning authority oversees future development.Under the proposal, PMRDA will become the principal planning authority for the area, while MSRDC is expected to retain jurisdiction only over land parcels directly required for execution of the ring road project.The proposal was discussed at a meeting chaired by chief minister and PMRDA chairman Devendra Fadnavis, where the need to remove jurisdictional ambiguity and ensure integrated development of the region was emphasised.Town planning department officials said that once the state govt approves the proposal, the 117 villages will be incorporated into the structural development plan being prepared for the PMRDA region. The authority has already completed studies for the region and prepared the base draft of the development plan for these villages.Officials said that under Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, PMRDA is better equipped to prepare and implement the final structural development plan for the area. While MSRDC’s primary mandate is road and infrastructure construction, PMRDA functions as a comprehensive regional planning authority, making it better suited to oversee the long-term growth of these villages.70 hoardings pulled down for palkhiPMRDA has removed 70 illegal hoardings along the Ashadhi palkhi routes passing through its jurisdiction for warkaris’ safety during the annual pilgrimage in July. The crackdown follows directions issued in May by commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari after a survey of around 123 hoardings along the palkhi routes in Haveli, Daund and Purandar talukas.As many as 32 illegal hoardings were removed from Haveli-Solapur Road, 13 each from Daund and Purandar talukas and 12 from Wadki. Some owners voluntarily removed their hoardings.Chaudhari said surveys are continuing on other major roads and prominent locations across its jurisdiction, and action will be taken against all unauthorised hoardings. No hoarding can be erected without PMRDA’s permission. Strict action will be taken against all illegal structures.
