Pune: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday directed the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to prepare the pending structural development plan for villages within its jurisdiction within six months. He also called for the establishment of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the Katraj–Yerawada twin tunnel project.
Budget Approval and Key Directives
The chief minister issued these directives while chairing the PMRDA meeting at Mumbai's Sahyadri Guest House, where he approved a Rs 4,628.85 crore budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The budget projects a total expenditure of Rs 4,625.30 crore, leaving a modest surplus of Rs 3.55 crore.
Fadnavis said the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) should take the lead in creating the SPV for the twin tunnel project, to be executed jointly with PMRDA. "A special purpose vehicle should be created for the Katraj–Yerawada twin tunnel project, with Pune Municipal Corporation taking the lead. PMRDA must prepare a structure development plan within six months while PMC should carry out the planned development for 23 merged villages."
Delegation of Powers and Budget Allocation
It was decided to approve delegation of land disposal powers to the metropolitan commissioner to speed up services such as plot allotment, transfers, inheritance entries and NOCs under the Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act, 2015. The engineering department (I & II) received the highest allocation of Rs 2,918.81 crore for infrastructure works, including the ring road, Metro projects, road development, twin tunnel, Lonavala skywalk, Pavana–Indrayani and Mula-Mutha river improvement, urban growth clusters, CM package roads, tourism and pilgrimage connectivity roads, and housing projects. The land and estate department has been allocated Rs 970.76 crore.
Fire Services Fund and Budget Presentation
A separate fire services fund has been created, with Rs 100.05 crore expected as receipts and Rs 71.04 crore as expenditure. The budget was presented by metropolitan commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari and includes revised estimates for 2025-26 and projections for 2026-27. The meeting was attended by deputy CMs Eknath Shinde, Sunetra Pawar and ministers. Issues such as the Purandar airport and inner ring road were also discussed.
PMC Likely to be Planning Authority for Five TP Schemes
PMC is likely to be designated the planning authority for implementing five town planning (TP) schemes in the Pune Metropolitan Region, including the recently cleared Maan-Mhalunge scheme, PMRDA officials said. The issue was discussed during PMRDA's budget meeting, where officials indicated that since large portions of these schemes fall within PMC limits, the civic body is likely to be entrusted with their execution. "In the case of Maan-Mhalunge TP scheme, major areas fall under PMC, so it was discussed that they should take it up. Similar steps are expected for the remaining schemes within PMC limits," a senior official who attended the Monday meeting told TOI.
The Maan-Mhalunge TP scheme, showcased as a model in 2018, received state government clearance on April 29 after being revised. The plan had earlier run into hurdles due to plots falling within flood lines and was resubmitted after corrections. Officials said the state urban development department has already cleared four TP schemes — Autade Handewadi, two schemes at Holkarwadi, and Vadachiwadi — while the Manjari Khurd–Kolwadi scheme was rejected due to technical issues related to plot demarcation and will have to be resubmitted.
