Infra projects in Pimpri-Chinchwad stuck due to red tape

Chairman of Pharande Spaces and vice-president of Credai Pune, Anil J Pharande, told media persons on Monday various proposed infrastructure projects in the development plan (DP) of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) are stuck due to red tape.

“Since the state government simultaneously receives many proposals from all over the state, this process often takes up to 15 years, which in turn leads to rising costs, enormous wastage of man hours and has a negative impact on the gross domestic product. There are several examples of such delays in the DPs proposed by the Pune Municipal Corporation and the PCMC,’’ he said.

He said there should be a single nodal body coordinating with all other local bodies. “If one nodal body is set up, the process could be completed in a few months and the land will become available for expansion precisely when it is needed.  In the DP of PCMC, Chakan — where so much industrial development is taking place — is not included at all.’’

Avinash Gokhale, director-marketing and corporate planning with Pharande Spaces said, “In the last decade, the population of Pune has grown by about 30% to 3 million, whereas the population of PCMC region has grown by about 70%, to 1.7 million. What is more pertinent is the growth of Pimpri-Chinchwad has been primarily of the white collar class with many attracted by career opportunities in the region,’’ he said.

Pharande said Pimpri-Chinchwad New Town Development Authority (PCNDTA) has been a major catalyst in the planned development of Pimpri-Chinchwad.