Pune’s 9 Merged Villages DP Finally Advances: 143 Changes Mean Narrower Roads and Shifted Amenities — Is Your Area Affected?
Nearly a decade after they were officially absorbed into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in 2017, the long-stalled Development Plan (DP) for nine peripheral villages has finally seen a major breakthrough. The state’s Town Planning Department has proposed a massive set of 143 modifications to the draft plan. Published in the Maharashtra Government Gazette under Section 28(4) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, this move brings these fast-growing suburbs one step closer to having a sanctioned roadmap for their future.
The villages impacted by this crucial update are Lohgaon, Mundhwa-Keshavnagar, Hadapsar (Sadesatra Nali), Undri, Ambegaon Budruk, Ambegaon Khurd, Dhayari, Shivane, and Uttamnagar. Despite experiencing explosive residential and commercial growth over the last few years, these areas have been operating without a finalized plan to guide infrastructure, public amenities, and land use.
Why the Pune 9 Merged Villages DP is Changing
The draft DP was first published in October 2025. Following this, the authorities were flooded with approximately 7,590 suggestions and objections from citizens. A dedicated planning committee conducted public hearings between March and April 2026, submitting its final report by July 2026.
Officials indicate that roughly 70–75% of the public input was considered positively, resulting in these 143 proposed modifications. The primary stated goal is to align the plan with “ground realities and existing structures.”
Here is the breakdown of the proposed changes:
- 84 changes (approx. 59%) relate to the road network—the largest category. Many of these involve reducing proposed road widths, shifting alignments, or adjusting layouts to avoid demolishing existing buildings.
- 28 changes (approx. 20%) affect public reservations (such as playgrounds, water tanks, and civic facilities).
- 30 changes (approx. 21%) concern amenity spaces.
Lohgaon accounts for the highest number of modifications (31), followed closely by Dhayari (20), Undri (19), Shivane and Uttamnagar (18 each), Ambegaon Budruk (17), Mundhwa-Keshavnagar and Hadapsar/Sadesatra Nali (15 each), and Ambegaon Khurd (around 7).
Key Road Width Reductions
Several high-profile stretches are being scaled back to accommodate existing development:
- In Undri, State Highway 116 is proposed to be reduced from 60 metres to 45 metres.
- In Lohgaon, the Dhanori–Wagholi road is proposed to drop from 36 metres to 24 metres.
- In Mundhwa-Keshavnagar, some 36-metre roads are being cut down to 18–24 metres. Other reductions include 24m roads becoming 18m, and 18m roads becoming 12m.
- Note: Not all changes are reductions. In parts of Hadapsar, a proposed 15-metre road has been increased to 18 metres, and some alignments have been shifted to work around existing construction.
In Dhayari, the reservation for a bus depot is proposed to be split, allowing part of the land to accommodate a truck terminus. Some areas are also being brought under hilltop-hill-slope reservations. Playgrounds, overhead water tanks, and other civic reservations have been altered, cancelled, or relocated in pockets of Lohgaon, Sadesatra Nali, and Mundhwa-Keshavnagar.
What This Means for Residents
For residents in these areas, the DP has been a source of immense frustration. Without a sanctioned plan, critical decisions on road widening, water reservoirs, schools, and gardens have been stuck in limbo for years. In places like Undri, locals have long complained about continued reliance on water tankers and incomplete infrastructure, despite paying municipal taxes post-merger.
The current modifications are being framed by officials as practical adjustments that make the plan actually implementable. Narrower roads may reduce land acquisition pressure and conflicts with existing structures. However, critics worry they could worsen future traffic congestion in already busy corridors. Furthermore, the shifting or cancelling of amenity reservations raises concerns about reduced open spaces in areas that are densifying at a rapid pace.
How You Can Check if Your Area is Affected
The modified maps and the complete list of changes are available for public inspection for 30 days. You can review these documents at:
- The Town Planning office (opposite Vidhan Bhavan)
- PMC headquarters
- The official PMC website (pmc.gov.in)
After this 30-day window, the revised draft is expected to move to the state Urban Development Department for final sanction.
The Bigger Picture
These nine villages form a significant part of Pune’s expanding periphery. A clear, workable DP is absolutely essential for orderly growth, better connectivity, and basic civic services. While this latest round of changes brings the process closer to the finish line, the real test will be how quickly the final plan is approved—and more importantly, how effectively it is implemented on the ground.
Residents in Lohgaon, Undri, Dhayari, Mundhwa, Ambegaon, and the other affected areas are strongly advised to review the revised maps during the inspection window, especially if their property, access road, or a nearby open space could be impacted. The coming weeks will determine whether this long-awaited plan finally delivers the clarity these neighbourhoods have been waiting for since 2017.
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