Pune's Urban Expansion Needs Design-Driven Planning, Says Maharashtra Minister Madhuri Misal

With Pune's rapid urban expansion, the role of design in city planning has become more crucial than ever, said Madhuri Misal, Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Urban Development. She assured that the state government would support efforts to enhance urban design and planning, accommodating the city's growth while maintaining its heritage.

Misal was speaking at the inauguration of the ‘VCollective – Building the City We Call Home’ exhibition, organised by VK Group to commemorate 51 years of contributions to architecture, town planning and sustainable urban development. The event, held at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre, saw participation from key figures in real estate, architecture and city planning, including MLA Siddharth Shirole, VK Group founder Vishwas Kulkarni, Managing Director Hrishikesh Kulkarni and prominent urban planners.

Addressing the gathering, Misal emphasised that Pune’s expansion should not come at the cost of haphazard urban development. “As our city continues to grow, issues such as traffic congestion, infrastructure strain, and unstructured construction are emerging. Urban design, zoning regulations and proper planning must be at the forefront of development initiatives. Dividing the city into organised clusters could be an effective strategy to preserve Pune’s aesthetic and functional integrity,” she stated.

A panel discussion on ‘Building the City of Tomorrow’ was also conducted, featuring insights from real estate developers, architects and industry professionals. Experts such as Ranjit Naiknavare (CREDAI President), Vikas Achalkar (IIA Pune Chairman) and Hrishikesh Kulkarni (MD, VK Group) shared strategies for sustainable urban growth and highlighted the importance of design-driven city planning.

The discussion raised concerns about uncontrolled Floor Space Index (FSI) allocation, which some experts believe has eroded Pune’s original charm and compact structure. They called for more balanced growth policies to prevent unstructured expansion and to retain the city’s planned aesthetics.