Visualizing the major transition from cantonment to PMC control – puneripages.in
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
This isn’t just another news update—it’s a big moment for Pune. If you’re someone who’s lived in the Pune or Khadki cantonment areas, you probably felt a mix of surprise, confusion, and maybe even hope when the merger announcement dropped.
I’ve written this piece keeping you in mind—whether you’re a homeowner, a tenant, a businessperson, or someone just curious about what all this really means.
Let’s break it all down together.
Table of Contents
🏛️ First, What Exactly is a Cantonment?
Not everyone knows this, and that’s okay. Cantonments were set up during British rule as military zones with civilians living around them. They’re run under a special law called the Cantonments Act of 2006, and the governance is a mix of military officials and elected civilians.
So, when we hear that these areas are now being merged into Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), it’s not just a name change—it’s a huge legal and administrative shift.
🕒 About That “3-Month” Timeline—Here’s What It Really Means
I know a lot of people are wondering: Will everything change in 3 months? Short answer—no. The government said the merger process will take about 3 months, but that refers mainly to paperwork like notifications and legal formalities.
Here’s what’s actually going to happen:
| Task | What It Means |
|---|---|
| De-Notification Process | The Defence Ministry will officially remove the civil areas from the cantonment category. |
| Legal & Administrative Integration | This involves transferring data, services, and employees into the PMC system. |
| Ground-Level Changes | Real changes—like taxes, garbage collection, and water—will roll out over 1 to 2 years or more. |
So if you were expecting instant changes to your water bills or property taxes—hold off for now.
🇮🇳 Why Now? Why This Move All of a Sudden?
This isn’t just about Pune or Khadki. It’s part of a larger national policy. The Ministry of Defence has been pushing for civilian areas in cantonments to be handed over to municipal bodies, keeping military zones separate.
Cities like Lucknow, Secunderabad, and now Pune are all seeing similar mergers.
🧾 What’s Going to Change—and What’s Not
I made this quick table to help you clearly understand what might change and what will probably stay the same:
| Area of Life | Current System | New System | What It Means for You |
| Property Tax | Lower, old-school rates | PMC’s capital-value based rates | Your tax bill is likely to rise |
| Building Permissions | Often confusing, stricter | PMC’s UDCPR rules | Might get simpler, but expect more construction |
| Water & Waste | Handled by the Board | Moved to PMC system | Better budgets, but teething problems possible |
| Governance | Military + nominated members | Elected corporators | You’ll get to vote for local PMC reps |
| Green Zones & Heritage | Well-protected | Could be under threat | We need to be vigilant about overdevelopment |
| Leasehold Properties | Controlled by Defence Estates | Status unclear | Big question mark—legal help might be needed |
📊 Where Are We Right Now? Here’s the Progress
I’ll keep updating this, so feel free to bookmark or revisit this guide:
| Phase | Status |
| De-notification by MoD | ✅ Done |
| State Government Notification | ⏳ Waiting |
| Ward Delimitation | ⏳ Not Started |
| Employee Merging | ⏳ Not Started |
| Updating Property Records | ⏳ Not Started |
Last Updated: July 10, 2025
❓ Questions Everyone’s Asking (Maybe You Are Too)
Q1: Will my address change?
It might. Once wards are redrawn, your address could include a PMC ward name instead of ‘Cantonment.’
Q2: What happens to the Cantonment General Hospital?
It’ll likely stay open but may now be managed by PMC or the state government.
Q3: Who do I call for garbage issues during the transition?
For now, your cantonment board is still responsible. PMC will take over gradually.
Q4: I run a shop in the cantonment. Do I pay different taxes now?
No LBT in PMC, but yes—shop licenses and property taxes may go up eventually.
👋 Final Thoughts (From One Local to Another)
This change is huge. I get it—there’s excitement, but there’s also uncertainty. My goal here was to help you make sense of it all, with no jargon or sugar-coating.
I’ll keep updating this page as things develop. If you have any questions, suggestions, or updates from your area—feel free to reach out.
We’re in this together. Let’s stay informed and support each other through this transition.
– Team puneripages.in
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