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Following the Maharashtra cabinet's approval to merge civil areas of Pune and Khadki cantonments with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), debate has sparked over Floor Space Index (FSI) norms for redevelopment. Currently capped at 0.5 in cantonment zones, proposed revisions to 1.0 still fall short of PMC's existing FSI range of 1.1 to 3.0. Residents and developers are urging clarity to ensure fair development post-merger. The process awaits final notification from the Centre and requires coordination among PMC, the Defence Ministry, and other agencies. The merger is part of a nationwide move to integrate cantonment civil areas with municipal bodies to streamline governance.
Following the state cabinet's recent approval to integrate civil areas of Pune and Khadki cantonments with the PMC, discussions have intensified around one major regulatory issue Floor Space Index (FSI). Local residents, civic activists, and real estate stakeholders have raised strong concerns over the absence of specific FSI guidelines that will govern post-merger redevelopment and construction norms. Advertisement
Currently, cantonment boards allow a maximum FSI of 0.5, which is significantly lower than the 1.1 to 3.0 range that applies across different zones under PMC. In anticipation of the merger, both Pune and Khadki Cantonment Boards have proposed revising FSI to 1. However, residents and property owners argue that this still falls short of PMC's standards and could hamper equitable development in newly merged zones.
The civic administration has acknowledged the issue but is yet to confirm any official position. The merger's success hinges on coordination between the PMC, Ministry of Defence, DGDE, and the state urban development department. Until the central government issues its notification, the process remains incomplete.
The merger is part of a broader strategy adopted by the Union government to dissolve select cantonment boards across India and integrate their civil areas with adjoining municipalities. Similar proposals are in motion in other Maharashtra cities like Deolali, Sambhajinagar, and Nashik Road. These changes aim to streamline civic governance, reduce duplication of services, and expand municipal jurisdiction. Cantonment Boards had even initiated alternate building bylaws earlier, proposing FSI of 2 for civil zones and 1 for bungalow areas, as a contingency in case the merger did not materialise.
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