PIMPRI-CHINCHWAD:Â The twin cities of Pimpri-Chinchwad are grappling with a growing crisis of illegal constructions and stalled housing projects, leaving thousands of residents and developers in distress. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has intensified its crackdown on unauthorised buildings following directives from the Maharashtra government, while legal hurdles have stalled major construction projects worth thousands of crores.
In a sweeping move, PCMC has initiated strict action against illegal constructions, impacting thousands of residents who occupy these unauthorised buildings. The civic body’s Building Permission and Unauthorised Construction Control Department has already registered criminal cases against 4,500 property holders, issued notices to over 90,000 residents, and demolished more than 10,000 unauthorised structures. Despite these enforcement measures, the future of nearly 3.5 lakh unauthorised structures in Pimpri-Chinchwad remains uncertain.
Manoj Lonkar, Deputy Commissioner of PCMC, stated that action against illegal constructions is an ongoing process as per High Court orders. He added that notices are continuously issued, and criminal cases are filed against property owners where demolition is not feasible due to access issues. However, the widespread presence of unauthorised buildings has made complete removal a complex challenge for the authorities.
The issue of illegal constructions resurfaces every election season, with political leaders promising to regularise unauthorised buildings to secure votes. However, successive governments have failed to implement any concrete regularisation plan. During the 2014 elections, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had assured that a process for legalisation would be introduced, but no substantial progress was made. The same assurances were repeated in subsequent Lok Sabha, Assembly, and municipal elections, leaving residents frustrated and disillusioned.
Meanwhile, the PCMC continues to follow High Court directives, carrying out demolition drives and reporting updates every three months. From April 2012 to December 2022, the civic body issued 90,006 notices and demolished 10,214 unauthorised constructions, covering a built-up area of 8.82 lakh square feet. With the city’s municipal elections pending for three years, the administration remains under state-appointed officials. Despite regular enforcement actions, illegal constructions continue to rise, prompting renewed notices and demolitions. The latest demolition drives have targeted temporary structures and RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) buildings across several areas, increasing tensions among affected residents. With growing concerns, many citizens are questioning whether a blanket crackdown will be implemented or if long-pending demands for regularisation will finally be addressed.
Amid the demolition crisis, another major setback has hit the city’s real estate sector. A Supreme Court stay on an environmental clearance notification has brought approvals for large housing projects in Pimpri-Chinchwad to a standstill. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had previously eased clearance norms, allowing projects up to 1.5 lakh square metres to be approved at the state level, streamlining the process. However, following the Supreme Court’s intervention, all approvals are now frozen, leaving developers in a state of uncertainty.
Prior to this, projects exceeding 20,000 square metres in the region required clearance from the Central Ministry’s committee due to high pollution levels. In January, the ministry had shifted this responsibility to the state-level Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) committee to expedite approvals. However, with the Supreme Court’s intervention, these projects remain in legal limbo. The stay has impacted more than 100 construction projects in Pimpri-Chinchwad, with a combined value of ₹30,000 crore. Each project covers a minimum of 2 lakh square feet, with approximately 200 housing units per project, and each is valued at around ₹300 crore.
The delayed approvals have severely impacted developers, leading to a drastic reduction in housing supply. This, in turn, has caused an increase in home prices, while also affecting the government’s revenue from stamp duty and GST collections. Real estate experts warn that if the approval deadlock continues, it could lead to significant economic losses, halted infrastructure growth, and rising property costs, putting further pressure on homebuyers.
With strict enforcement against illegal structures and a stalled real estate sector, Pimpri-Chinchwad faces an uncertain future. The lack of political will to address regularisation has left thousands of residents vulnerable, while developers struggle with frozen approvals for large-scale projects. As authorities intensify demolition drives, the pressing question remains: will the government find a solution for residents caught in the crossfire, or will the cycle of promises and inaction continue?
