Pune to have three new municipal corporations, says DCM Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday (August 8, 2025) suggested the creation of three new Municipal Corporations (MC) in Pune’s suburbs, including Hinjewadi, Chakan, and Phursungi areas, citing rapid urbanisation of suburbs and the need for better management of civic issues.

“I will ensure that separate municipal corporations are created for the regions outside Pune City. A MC for covering Uruli Devachi, Phursungi, Loni Kalbhor, Manjari, and Wagholi, another for Hinjewadi and surrounding areas, and the Chakan area,” said Mr. Pawar, who is also the Guardian Minister of Pune, adding it is a need of the future and has to adapt with time. 

While speaking at a review meeting in the Chakan area of Pune district, Mr. Pawar pointed out that planned development can be achieved with new municipal corporations in place, saying infrastructure work can take place and help in navigating traffic congestion as it will allow road widening and accommodate the needs of a growing population. 

Days ago, Mr. Pawar highlighted the traffic woes and poor civic management in the Hinjewadi area of Pune, which is an IT hub, citing that the IT companies are moving out. These areas, including the industrial town of Chakan, witnessed heavy traffic causing inconvenience to IT professionals, which also led to an online campaign for a merger with the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). According to Mr. Pawar, the rapid urbanisation has also increased the load on the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), under which the Phursungi area falls. Former Guardian Minister of Pune, Chandrakant Patil, also made a similar demand of having separate municipal corporations for regions in Pune in 2024, citing difficulty in catering to large regions under a single municipal corporation. 

Reflecting on the criteria that regions having a population above five lakhs can have a municipal corporation, Mr. Pawar said, “Thane district had only one municipal corporation, with time Mira-Bhayandar MC, Ulhas Nagar MC, Navi Mumbai MC were carved, a similar thing was done with the Vasai Virar region of Palghar district. Updating regions to MC can help us with the proper implementation of civic solutions and receive funds from the Centre and outside agencies to support the development.