Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority

Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority
Name	Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority
Formation	2015
Headquarters	Pune, Maharashtra
Agency type	Statutory planning authority
Jurisdiction	Pune Metropolitan Region
Chief1 position	Chairman
Parent agency	Government of Maharashtra

Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority is the statutory planning agency responsible for spatial planning, urban development, and infrastructure coordination in the Pune Metropolitan Region. It coordinates land use, transport corridors, and housing within the wider Pune area, interfacing with state agencies, municipal corporations, and national ministries. The authority operates alongside municipal bodies and state departments to implement regional projects and regulatory frameworks.

History

The authority was constituted after policy deliberations involving the Government of Maharashtra, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and regional stakeholders such as the Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Its formation followed precedents set by authorities like the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and the Delhi Development Authority, and drew on planning models from the Town and Country Planning Act, 1966 and post-liberalisation urban reforms associated with the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Early mandates referenced metropolitan studies by institutions including the Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, and local research centers such as the Savitribai Phule Pune University. Landmark events shaping the authority included regional transport proposals toward the Pune Metro project, highway upgrades linked to the National Highways Authority of India, and water supply planning influenced by the Mula-Mutha River basin management.

Jurisdiction and Governance

The authority’s jurisdiction covers the Pune Metropolitan Region encompassing multiple civic units such as the Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, municipal councils like Khed, Baramati, and numerous gram panchayats in districts including Pune district and parts of Ramanagar district (where applicable). Governance is structured under statutory provisions of the Urban Development Department (Maharashtra) with oversight from the State Cabinet of Maharashtra and interactions with the Ministry of Finance (India) for allocation matters. The governing board typically includes representatives from the Collectorate of Pune, elected members from municipal bodies, nominees from the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, and experts drawn from institutions such as the Central Public Works Department and academic centers like the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad for advisory roles.

Functions and Powers

Statutory functions mirror metropolitan authorities nationwide: preparation of the regional master plan referencing the National Urban Transport Policy, land use zoning influenced by the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, coordination of infrastructure corridors involving agencies such as the Indian Railways and the NHAI, and approval of subdivision plans in tandem with municipal bylaws. Powers include acquisition under frameworks akin to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 for public projects, sanctioning development permissions informed by the Model Building Bye-laws, and issuing guidelines consistent with the Smart Cities Mission when applicable. The authority also partners with financiers like the State Bank of India, multilateral lenders such as the Asian Development Bank, and technical agencies including the National Institute of Urban Affairs for capacity building.

Major Projects and Infrastructure

Major initiatives have involved corridor-level interventions linked to the Pune Metro, expansion of arterial roads aligned with the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, and suburban rail proposals interfacing with Indian Railways suburban planning. Other projects include integrated townships near industrial nodes associated with corporations like Tata Motors, logistics hubs influenced by the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor concept, and water-supply augmentation referencing the Mula-Mutha River schemes and inter-basin transfers studied by the Central Water Commission. Urban flood mitigation has seen collaboration with agencies such as the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport model planners, while transit-oriented development pilots have been informed by international practice from entities like the World Bank and UN-Habitat.

Finance and Budget

Revenue streams comprise development charges, betterment levies, sale of plots, and grants from the Government of Maharashtra and central schemes like the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation. Project financing has involved municipal bonds under frameworks promoted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, loans from public sector banks including the Bank of Baroda, and concessional credit tied to programs administered by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Budget allocations are subject to scrutiny by state finance committees such as the Maharashtra Finance Commission and audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India where applicable.

Criticism and Controversies

The authority has faced critique from civic activists associated with groups like the Pune Citizens Forum and academic commentators from institutions such as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences for perceived prioritisation of developer-led projects over equitable housing. Environmentalists linked to the Save Mula-Mutha Movement and litigants in petitions before the Bombay High Court have challenged aspects of riverfront planning, land acquisition, and tree felling tied to road widening. Allegations over transparency have prompted demands for compliance with the Right to Information Act, 2005 and for stronger engagement with local bodies like gram panchayats and cooperative housing societies such as the Maharashtra Housing Board. Debates continue involving policy think tanks like the Centre for Policy Research and advocacy groups including the Urban Design Research Institute on balancing growth with heritage conservation in precincts such as Shaniwar Wada and the Pune Cantonment area.

Category:Urban planning in India Category:Pune