Pune Infrastructure Deficit – Causes And Cure
In the rush to develop projects during Pune’s real estate boom time, the very important factor of support infrastructure was neglected. This was especially true for projects within the city and the adjoining areas. Due to the high demand for properties, people kept on buying and developers kept on building even though infrastructure was declining rapidly.
However, Pune property buyers soon discovered that both their standard of living went down and the investment value of their properties stagnated because of the inferior infrastructure. Eventually, the new breed of Pune real estate buyers became more aware of the importance of basic infrastructure, and of their right to expect it. The highest demand is now for Pune flats that are affordable and also offer basic civil infrastructure such as adequate sewage, access roads, connectivity to important places, water and electricity supply, etc.
The problem of Pune’s infrastructure deficit is actually very surprising. The problem should logically be lower for projects developed within the city limits. After all, the municipal corporation has the advantages of sufficient funding and opportunity for forward planning. However, it is areas such as PCMC which have taken the infrastructure message more seriously. As a result, infrastructure in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation is visibly superior to what Pune City has to offer. People who have bought homes in township properties in Pimpri Chinchwad are even better off, because these projects offer high-class internal infrastructure, as well.
The PCNTDA (Pimpri Chinchwad New Township Development Authority) has ensured that all residential areas in the PCMC have sufficient infrastructure. As a result, the quality of life and appreciation potential of residential properties in PCMC are at a very high level. Meanwhile, Pune continues to face problems of traffic congestion, lack of adequate open spaces and green areas, pollution, etc. The Maharashtra Government has been proactive in assisting with infrastructural enablement for its cities. However, it is not possible for the Government to rush in with support infrastructure whenever developers decide to build.
As such, developers should assume a larger share of responsibility for the establishment of infrastructure for their projects if they aspire for success for their projects. However, there is one more thing the Maharashtra Government can do to ensure that Pune’s newer areas get sufficient infrastructure. It can revise its policies on development and follow the model adopted by forward looking bodies such as the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA), which has implemented large-scale infrastructure reforms that do not necessarily involve huge budgets.
The model involves acquiring a larger tract of land, putting in all necessary civic infrastructures, and returning that component to the owners as developed land that has immediate market value. In return, they retain the remaining part for further development of their own projects.
Anil Pharande – Vice President, CREDAI Pune Metro & Chairman, Pharande Spaces
