PMRDA awaits Centre’s nod to bring Cantt under its banner

He said the PMRDA would mainly do the development planning, while it would be executed by the respective local bodies and for Cantonment area it would be done by the respective boards.

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At present, the PMRDA covers 3,535 sq km in and around the city that has 69 per cent of population of the district.

“The resolution to extend the PMRDA to 6,900 sq km has been forwarded to the state government for approval. We are expecting a decision on it in the next few months,” he said, adding that the PMRDA would take up the process of preparing a development plan only after it received the state government’s nod to extend the area.

Zagade added the PMRDA had been formed to ensure proper development of the metropolitan region, but there was no conflict of powers with the local civic bodies that cover it. “The powers of all civic bodies, including gram panchayat, are not affected,” he said.

The PMRDA would explore a different approach towards planning development of the region with its idea to prepare an economic development plan based on the available resources in the area.

“The promotion of economic activities would be explored in the development plan as citizens move to the metropolitan region for livelihood,” Zagade said.

The idea is that the livability index should increase in the metropolitan region, he said adding that the PMRDA would ensure maximum benefits were for locals. The development plan would have culture and heritage plan with a behaviour ingredient of the residents of the area to sustain the social environment, Zagade said.

Kiran Mantri, vice-president of Pune Cantonment Board (PCB), said, “The cantonment should be included in the PMRDA as it is part of the city and the residents of cantonment ares should not be left out from the development process.