Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) approved 16 high-rise building proposals in 2024, marking a significant increase from the nine approvals in 2023. Over the past eight years (2016-2023), the city has seen 41 skyscrapers gain approval, indicating a growing trend in vertical development, particularly in suburban areas.

The PMC’s High-Rise Committee has implemented strict guidelines to ensure such projects are in compliance with essential infrastructure requirements. Permissions are granted only in areas where road width exceeds 24 meters and where developers agree to install dual pipelines for water supply and treated water reuse.

Speaking on the matter, Amol Bahadkar, senior official from PMC’s building permissions department, stated, “Regular committee meetings are held to ensure that all proposals are rigorously assessed. Ground-level inspections are conducted before approvals are granted.”

The majority of these high-rise buildings are over 100 meters tall. All such projects must adhere to the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, and meet regulations under the Unified Development Control and Promotion Rules (UDCPR), which govern structural stability, fire safety, and geotechnical aspects.

Challenges and Observations

According to residents and urban planners, while skyscrapers address growing housing demands, they can strain existing infrastructure if not planned adequately. Areas such as Nagar Road, already grappling with traffic congestion and water shortages, could face additional challenges with the rise of high-rise buildings. Many societies in these areas currently rely on water tankers due to insufficient municipal water supply.

Residents from areas like Somwar Peth, Bopodi, Baner, Balewadi, and Kharadi, where PMC has granted building permissions for towers up to 160.45 meters high, emphasized the need for sufficient amenities. “Tall towers may be beneficial, but without adequate infrastructure, they negatively affect the locality,” said a Nagar Road resident.