‘Fringe Area’ Residents Get Relief; PMRDA Takes a Major Decision!

• Residential development permitted on agricultural land as per regulations
• Uniform procedure introduced for road connectivity; relief for thousands of landowners in areas adjoining cities

Pimpri: With the implementation of the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) for the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), the way has been cleared for obtaining permissions for residential construction on agricultural land falling within the prescribed fringe areas surrounding municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats within the authority’s jurisdiction.

To bring clarity regarding road connectivity in these areas, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Abhijit Chaudhari has prescribed a special procedure through a circular. The decision is expected to provide relief to thousands of landowners and citizens and give a boost to the construction sector as well as planned development.

According to the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR-2020), residential use permissible in the residential zone can be allowed on agricultural land located within 2 kilometres from the limits of a Municipal Corporation, 1 kilometre from the limits of a Municipal Council and 0.5 kilometre from the limits of a Nagar Panchayat, subject to payment of the prescribed premium.

However, for such development, it is necessary to have a continuous and interconnected network of roads in the concerned area. To ensure effective implementation of this provision, PMRDA has introduced a new procedure. Except for Lonavala Municipal Council, this procedure has been made applicable with immediate effect to proposals in the fringe areas adjoining 2 Municipal Corporations, 7 Municipal Councils and 2 Nagar Panchayats.

Under this procedure, roads included in the approved Regional Plan, roads from the cancelled Draft Development Plan, roads actually existing on the ground, as well as roads proposed with consent, will be considered collectively while processing development permission proposals.

It will be mandatory to connect the internal roads in a proposal with adjoining plots or the available road network.

Until PMRDA publishes its new Structure Plan, roads from the cancelled Draft Development Plan will also be considered in development permission proposals in the concerned areas. Further, if a properly regulated access road of the required width is actually available at the site, action will be taken to approve the concerned proposal.

The decision is expected to help curb unauthorised and haphazard development in fringe areas and promote planned development.

Key Points

1. Distance Limit: Areas within 2 km of Municipal Corporation limits, 1 km of Municipal Council limits and 0.5 km of Nagar Panchayat limits will be considered as Fringe Areas.

2. Applicable Area: The procedure will apply to fringe areas adjoining 2 Municipal Corporations, 7 Municipal Councils and 2 Nagar Panchayats under PMRDA, excluding Lonavala Municipal Council.

3. Integrated Consideration of Roads: Roads in the approved Regional Plan, roads from the cancelled Draft Development Plan, existing roads and roads proposed with consent will be considered.

4. Connectivity of Internal Roads: Until the new Structure Plan is published, roads from the cancelled Development Plan will be considered in development permission proposals. Internal roads will also be required to be connected to adjoining plots or roads.

5. Access Road: If a properly regulated access road of the required width is available at the site, action will be taken to approve the concerned proposal.

6. Premium Charges: A premium will be levied at the rate of 15% of the rate mentioned in the Annual Statement of Rates (ASR/Ready Reckoner) applicable to the concerned land.

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“Development pressure is increasing significantly in the fringe areas adjoining cities. The provisions under the UDCPR will enable residential development in these areas in a planned manner and will also help develop a coherent network of necessary roads. The new procedure will make permissible residential use possible and accelerate the planned development of these areas.”
— Dr Abhijit Chaudhari, Metropolitan Commissioner, PMRDA