Town planning schemes may get Maharashtra's nod by April

PUNE: Five town planning schemes in the Pune Metropolitan Region are in the final stages of approval from the state government.
PMRDA is all set to allocate Rs50 cr for each scheme, once it is cleared in the upcoming budget meeting, said officials. The five schemes, requiring 751.55 hectares, will come up in Wadachiwadi, Autade Handewadi, Manjari Kolwadi, and two at Holkarwadi, a Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) official said.
While the initial funding will be allocated from the PMRDA's own fund, the central urban infrastructure fund will also be available for these schemes, added officials. "Three town planning schemes have already been submitted to the state government and they should be approved soon. According to the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act, the scheme needs to be cleared within two months of submission. We expect the clearance by April," said deputy collector Ramdas Jagtap.
The town planning schemes have been planned as revenue models for the proposed 128-km PMRDA ring road. Altogether 26 town planning schemes are expected along the first 32-km stretch of the proposed ring road.
In case of a town planning scheme, 50 percent of the developed land will be returned to the owner. The government will have to appoint an arbitrator for giving a hearing to the landholders for allotting the plots. After the hearing is completed, the draft will again be forwarded to the government for execution.