Pune: The Mumbai High Court’s hearing on the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA)’s draft development plan has been repeatedly postponed, leaving the plan in limbo.
Originally published on August 2, 2021, the draft plan was aimed at guiding future urban development, but legal challenges and administrative delays have stalled its progress.
After PMRDA invited public objections and suggestions, it received a massive response, with 69,218 submissions from citizens. The hearings on these submissions began in March 2022 and concluded in October of the same year.
By March 2024, the expert committee had submitted its report to the PMRDA administration, but a January 2024 meeting to finalize the plan was canceled.
The process encountered further hurdles as 11 petitions were filed in the High Court, prompting a stay order on January 25, 2024.
The hearing on these petitions was initially scheduled for October 21, 2024, later postponed to November 27, and now awaits a new date in December 2024.
Elected Members Raise Concerns
Members of the Pune Metropolitan Planning Committee, including Vasant Bhase and Sukhdev Tapkir, criticized PMRDA in a press conference, citing irregularities in the process and alleging that elected representatives were sidelined. They demanded greater transparency and adherence to procedural norms.
Political Factors Add to Delays
The model code of conduct for state assembly elections, which lasted until November 23, added another layer of delay.
Although the code of conduct has now been lifted, the absence of an active state government has further complicated matters. The newly elected coalition government is yet to be formed, and the High Court awaits its submission on the issue.
PMRDA Commissioner Dr. Yogesh Mhase confirmed the delay, stating, “Though a hearing on the draft development plan was scheduled, it did not take place, and the High Court has postponed the hearing again.”
The draft development plan, crucial for planned urban growth in the Pune Metropolitan Region, remains stuck in legal and administrative proceedings, with its next hearing expected in December 2024.
