A Clean Future: PMRDA's $600 Crore Sanitation Push for 230 Villages

The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) is set to implement a large-scale sewage treatment initiative across 230 villages, aiming to meet the region’s sanitation needs for the next 25 years.

The project will be executed in three phases, with tenders for Phase 1 scheduled for October 2025. The first phase includes 14 key villages such as Lavale, Pirangut, Maan, Bhugaon, Shirur, Kesanand, and Theur, with land already secured at five sites. Open drains in these areas will be decommissioned and connected to main sewer lines, which will lead to sewage treatment plants (STPs) constructed individually or in clusters — mainly along natural stream corridors.

PMRDA Commissioner Yogesh Mhase stated that the initiative will enhance sanitation, promote water conservation, and enable long-term sustainable urban growth. This marks the first comprehensive sewage management project for the PMRDA jurisdiction, excluding areas under PMC and PCMC.

Villages will be prioritized based on population, beginning with those above 50,000 residents, followed by 30,000 and 20,000. The estimated project cost has doubled from the initial ₹300 crore to ₹600 crore, with each phase expected to be completed within an 18-month timeline.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.