Pune’s Green Spaces: Only 20% of Pune’s ambitious development plan has been implemented, leaving most proposed gardens and playgrounds existing merely on paper. The city faces a significant shortage of gardens, open spaces, and fire stations relative to its population, according to recent findings.
Out of 1,598 reservations outlined in both the 1987 Development Plan (DP) for the old city limits and the DP for 23 villages, only 339 have been developed. This minimal implementation rate of 20% is primarily attributed to insufficient funds for land acquisition.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), established on February 15, 1950, initially oversaw a city spanning 26,545 acres with a population of 485,000. The city’s first development plan was announced on November 20, 1958, and received state government approval on July 7, 1966. Implementation began on August 15, 1966. A revised plan was proposed on March 15, 1976, which the state government approved on January 5, 1987.
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According to current development standards, 10% of reservations are allocated for schools, with requirements of 4,000 square meters of playground and garden space per 1,000 residents. The plan also stipulates one fire station per 200,000 population and one hospital bed per 250 people.
The current development plans, combining both the old city limits and 23 villages, include:
278 educational reservations (64 developed)
169 health facilities (39 developed)
212 commercial use spaces (36 developed)
74 housing projects (20 developed)
356 open spaces (89 developed)
509 other reservations (91 developed)
A major obstacle in implementing these plans is the substantial funding requirement of Rs 20,000 crore for land acquisition. “Land acquisition requires double compensation nowadays. Citizens prefer cash compensation over FSI and TDR options, but the corporation lacks sufficient funds for such extensive land acquisition,” explains Pratibha Patil, Deputy Commissioner of the Land Acquisition Department, PMC.
The development plan’s implementation faces additional challenges due to lengthy approval processes, typically taking 5-9 years. This means that half of the 20-year planning period is consumed by preparation and approval procedures, leaving limited time for actual implementation. As a result, most reservations remain unrealized, existing only in documentation rather than being developed into actual civic amenities for Pune’s residents.
This situation highlights the growing disconnect between urban planning aspirations and ground-level implementation, raising concerns about the city’s ability to provide adequate public infrastructure for its expanding population. (Pune’s Green Spaces)
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