PMRDA Unveils 18 Growth Centres to Drive Pune's Economic Expansion
PMRDA Commissioner Dr Abhijit Chaudhari announced the creation of 18 Growth Centres across the Pune Metropolitan Region under initiatives by NITI Aayog and the Maharashtra government. Speaking at the inaugural session of PROP CONNECT 2026, one of India's largest one-day real estate conferences, Chaudhari said these centres will be developed as thematic business hubs and industrial clusters around Metro stations and strategically identified locations. The goal is to generate employment and promote balanced regional growth, reducing development pressure on Pune's core.
Structural Development Plan to Guide Two Decades of Growth
Chaudhari revealed that PMRDA is preparing a structural development plan to guide the Pune Metropolitan Region's growth over the next two decades. The draft plan will be prepared shortly and finalized within 18 months. Initially, the plan will focus on core infrastructure, including road networks, transport infrastructure, water resources, hilltops, and environmentally sensitive no-development zones. Zoning will be addressed later after considering regional planning provisions and future development requirements.
Growth Centres as New Economic Engines
According to Chaudhari, the Growth Centres will emerge as new economic growth engines for Pune. They are designed to encourage investments, create jobs, and distribute growth across emerging locations. He described the proposed international airport as a 'game changer' for the region, accelerating development in surrounding areas and enhancing Pune's economic potential. The conference, organized by Professional Realtors of Pune (PROP) and National Association of Realtors-India (NAR-India), saw participation from over 2,000 realtors from 38 cities and more than 300 developers and industry partners.
Metro Line 3 Operations to Begin Soon
Providing an update on transport infrastructure, Chaudhari said operations on the first 12 stations of Metro Line 3 are expected to commence by the end of July 2026, with the remaining corridor targeted for completion by the end of 2026. He added that projects such as the regional ring road will improve connectivity and open up new areas for urban expansion. These projects are expected to create opportunities across industry, construction, education, healthcare, and tourism sectors.
PMRDA Additional Commissioner Highlights Traffic and Water Infrastructure
PMRDA Additional Commissioner K. Manjulakshmi addressed Pune's traffic congestion as a priority, noting that the expanding Metro network and ring road project will significantly improve mobility. She also stressed the need for additional water treatment infrastructure to meet growing demand and acknowledged the real estate sector's role in Pune's urban development.
Industry Leaders Emphasize Professionalism and Collaboration
CREDAI Pune President Manish Jain described real estate consultants as 'co-developers' bridging the gap between developers and homebuyers, urging professionalism, integrity, and customer satisfaction. PROP President Udayan Mane said the overwhelming participation reflected the growing strength of the organized real estate community, and the conference aimed to provide direction on emerging trends like artificial intelligence, automation, entrepreneurship, and business expansion. PROP CONNECT 2026 Convener Ramesh Toshniwal noted that the event brought together leading real estate stakeholders on a single platform. Former PROP President Darshan Chawla emphasized strengthening collaboration between developers and realtors while creating awareness about emerging business opportunities.
Expert Sessions and Leadership Insights
The conference featured sessions on artificial intelligence and automation by Vaibhav Sisinty, the future of the real estate market by CA Sarthak Ahuja, and business growth strategies by Rajiv Talreja. A special leadership conversation titled 'The Panchshil Story' featured Atul Chordia, Chairman of Panchshil Realty, who shared his journey from property broker to building one of India's leading luxury real estate brands. Chordia attributed the company's success to timely project delivery, customer commitment, and a long-term vision, expressing pride in contributing to Pune's emergence as an internationally recognized city.
