Pune District's Reduced Annual Plan of Rs 1,032 Crore Set for DPDC Approval
A significant financial blueprint for Pune district is poised for review as the District Planning and Development Council (DPDC) convenes its inaugural meeting of the year on Thursday. The session, to be presided over by the newly appointed Pune guardian minister and deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar, will deliberate on an annual district plan valued at Rs 1,032.88 crore for the fiscal year 2026–27. This proposal, meticulously crafted by the district administration, reflects a strategic reduction of approximately Rs 60 crore compared to the initial outlay of the previous year, aligning with state government directives to curtail expenditures amidst ongoing fiscal challenges.
Key Details and Historical Context
District collector Jitendra Dudi is slated to present the plan before an assembly of MLAs and other public representatives from Pune. Notably, this gathering marks the first DPDC meeting in the district following the absence of Ajit Pawar, who previously chaired these council sessions. According to district planning officials, the proposed allocations are heavily concentrated in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, tourism, infrastructure development, and rural upliftment. Sources within the administration have confirmed that the Rs 1,032 crore figure for 2026–27 represents a deliberate downsizing from last year's original allocation of Rs 1,092 crore.
In the preceding fiscal year of 2025–26, the district administration had initially prepared a plan of Rs 1,092 crore, which the state government later augmented to Rs 1,379 crore through an additional infusion of Rs 287 crore. Officials have clarified that, in light of the state's constrained financial situation, Pune district was advised to adopt a more conservative target for the current year's plan. Consequently, the administration has formulated a reduced outlay to comply with these fiscal prudence measures.
Fund Utilisation and Future Projections
Regarding the deployment of funds from the previous year, of the Rs 1,379 crore sanctioned for 2025–26, administrative approval was granted for projects worth around Rs 1,200 crore, with the tendering process initiated for these initiatives. An initial release of nearly Rs 100 crore was followed by direct expenditure of approximately Rs 500–600 crore on various works. The remaining balance of Rs 200–250 crore is anticipated to be disbursed shortly. Despite the presented plan for 2026–27 standing at Rs 1,032 crore, district authorities anticipate supplementary funds of about Rs 250 crore throughout the year for diverse projects. Officials project that the total outlay could potentially escalate to around Rs 1,600 crore, mirroring the enhancement witnessed in the prior year.
Sectoral Priorities and New Initiatives
In the previous annual plan, Ajit Pawar had placed particular emphasis on fortifying Zilla Parishad schools and primary health centres across the district. This focus led to the introduction of two innovative initiatives—'model schools' and 'model PHCs'—for the first time, alongside earmarked funds for rural roads, public facilities, and civic amenities. A district administration official remarked, "The focus saw many such model schools and PHCs coming up." Additionally, rather than allocating resources for routine forest department operations, the district proposed targeted funding for eco-tourism-related projects, showcasing a shift towards sustainable development.
The upcoming DPDC meeting on February 12 is expected to delve into similar sectoral priorities before granting approval to the plan. A senior official indicated that, with several sops already announced by the state government, further allocations might be constrained, underscoring the need for strategic financial management in the coming fiscal period.
