PMRDA to finalise new structural plan in 18 months; identifies 18 growth hubs

Pune: PMRDA commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari announced on Monday that the planning body will finalise a new structural plan for its jurisdiction within the next 18 months.The timeline includes nine months for the preparation of a draft plan and an additional nine months for its finalisation.

This new approach follows the cancellation of a previous draft development plan that had reached its final stages.

Chaudhari emphasised that this time the PMRDA will focus on essential infrastructure, including roads, transportation, major reservations, and "no-development" zones, while detailed zoning will be addressed at a later stage.“While formulating the structural plans, we will also be identifying growth hubs in the area.

Zoning will be taken up later, factoring in regional planning provisions and future development requirements,” Chaudhari said. He was speaking at the Prop Connect 2026 real estate summit, organised by the Professional Realtors of Pune (PROP) and the National Association of Realtors-India (NAR-India).As part of a strategy to establish Pune as an economic powerhouse, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has identified 18 growth centres along metro stations and other strategic local areas.

The plan envisions the creation of "thematic business districts" and industrial pockets that will serve as nodes for employment and regional growth.Addressing connectivity, the commissioner stated that the PMRDA is currently in the process of acquiring land for the inner ring Road. Meanwhile, the outer ring Road will be developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).“The inner ring road must be developed in coordination with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

There is a possibility that a separate special purpose vehicle (SPV) will be formed, not just for land acquisition but for the actual construction of the road,” Chaudhari added. “While the project has been somewhat stalled in the past, this new arrangement should help it finally take off.”Chaudhari also announced that operations on the first 12 stations of Metro Line 3, connecting Shivajinagar to Hinjewadi, are expected to commence by the end of this month. The remainder of the corridor is targeted for completion by the end of 2026.