Pune, 8th July 2025: In a significant push toward streamlined urban development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department to initiate immediate action on the long-pending demand to merge seven villages from Mulshi and Maval talukas into the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).
The move aims to address the rapid urbanization in the area, especially around the Rajiv Gandhi IT Park in Hinjawadi. The demand includes the inclusion of Hinjawadi, Man, Marunji, Nere, Jambe from Mulshi taluka and Sangavade, Gahunje from Maval taluka.
The official memorandum regarding the merger demand was submitted by Chinchwad MLA Shankar Jagtap to CM Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde. Shiv Sena MP Shrirang Barne was also present at the meeting with Shinde. In response, CM Fadnavis instructed the concerned department to begin the necessary procedures, while Dy CM Shinde asked for a formal proposal to be prepared and presented for further consideration.
This proposal, first introduced in 2018 by the PCMC through a passed resolution, has seen little progress despite growing urgency. Over the past few years, these seven villages have experienced exponential population growth, driven by the influx of IT professionals and industrial development in and around Hinjawadi.
The population boom has led to significant strain on local infrastructure and basic services such as roads, water supply, drainage, and healthcare, exposing the limitations of the gram panchayat governance system.
The state government believes that inclusion within PCMC will bring unified urban administration, more efficient decision-making, and comprehensive solutions to persistent issues like traffic congestion and lack of civic amenities. Additionally, this merger would enhance support for IT and industrial sectors, bringing increased revenue to the government while ensuring more sustainable and coordinated development of these rapidly urbanizing areas.
To further address the ongoing concerns, especially those related to Hinjawadi's infrastructure and traffic chaos, a high-level meeting has been scheduled on Thursday, July 10 at 2 PM at the Cabinet Hall in Vidhan Bhavan, Mumbai. The meeting, convened under the directives of CM Fadnavis, will include senior government officials, representatives from the IT Forum, housing societies, voluntary organizations, and key departmental stakeholders. The objective is to find long-term solutions to the mounting challenges faced by one of the state’s most prominent IT hubs.