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Chapter -4

Phases in Pune's Development

From Kasba Pane to Cyber Pune

Pune's location was once considered less conducive for urban growth. But

now Pune, the cultural capital of Maharashtra is rapidly metamorphosing into a

commercial hub. This metamorphism has a very long history spanningoverlOOO

years or more. Pune, which has been hailed as '"Happening City", has not only

survived but it has also prospered continuously during the last 400 years. Up to the

mid seventeenth century, Pune was one of many small garrison towns on the plateau.

Within a century however, this fairly insignificant small town outstripped the older

established towns in its respective region and emerged dominant. In the 19' and 20'

centuries it had undergone significant changes and prospered in various fields.

Referred to as Oxford of East for its educational tradition and Detroit of India for its

post independence industrial development, in the 21*' century, Pune is emerging as a

''Cyber City". The growth and development of Pune is quite interesting. It has seen

many a rise and fall in its long and chequered history under different rulers at

different periods. The growth phases of Pune have been divided into five different

periods, so that one can understand the richness of its culture and reasons for its

success.

4.1 Phases in Pune's Development

Pune served not only as the proud capital of the Peshwas, who headed the

formidable Maratha confederacy but was also the acknowledged capital of the

region of Maharashtra and the symbolic centre of power for larger parts of India.

The period from 1650 to 1817 was the first important phase in the urban

development of Pune. The second phase beginning from the fall of Peshwas from

1818 to 1850 initiated by the confrontation of the Poona (Pune) government: one

among the two major political powers in western India of the time. This

confrontation resulted in the fall of Marathas, the Peshwas and the subsequent

78

British occupation of the large Peshawa dominions. Consequently, the political as

well as the urban map of the region was altered. In the third phase, from 1851 to

1900, Pune became the seasonal capital of the Bombay Government and began to

grow rapidly, profiting from the increasingly close links with its prosperous and

powerful neighbour, Bombay (Mumbai). During this period, Pune acquired a new

Indo-British structure, with the declining indigenous city, co-existing side by side

with the slowly expanding British Military and Civil station. In the early twentieth

century, in the fourth phase of its growth, actually the disparity between the

indigenous city and the Camp was getting blurred and urban expansion was

accelerated at all levels. After Independence, Pune's growth was driven by an

industrial base and there was large-scale development of urban infrastructure under

various MIDC and town-planning programmes. The prospect of employment and a

safe, pleasant environment charm lured many people to the city. This has resulted in

the uncontrolled urban sprawl we are witnessing at present. Pune today has emerged

as one of the fastest growing metropolitan cities at the national level and ranks 8th

with a population of more than 30 lakhs and an area of 246 km . The following

account will provide a brief sketch of Pune's growth and urban development

considering five interesting milestones for a better understanding of its

contemporary spatial structure, very necessary to plan for its future development.

4.2 Early and Peshwa Pune (Up to 1817):

The original nucleus of Pune was located in the immediate vicinity of the

confluence of the Mula and Mutha. River confluences have traditionally been

considered sacred by the Hindus and to this fact, is attributed the original name of

Poona: Sanskrit "Punyapur" (Cleanser), which changed into Marathi "Pune" and the

Bridsh "Poona". (Poona gaz, fl: 211, IH: 402; Gadgil, 1952). Pune that has a long

history can be traced from the copper plate inscriptions of the Rastrakuta kings in

the 8" and lO" century. After the Rastrakutas, Pune came under the Yadav Kings of

Daulatabad. During the period from sixth to thirteenth century, Pune served as head

quarters for Hindu dynasties that controlled the West Deccan Region. Later in 1294

AD it came under Mohammedan rule with Muslim invasion of the Deccan. In the

early thirteenth century it was said to be only a small village containing fifteen huts

79

around the traditional temples. At the end of the thirteenth century the first traces of

a market town called, 'Kasbe Pune' was developed by an Arab military governor by

combining the villages of Kasarli and Kumbarli to its east. Pune remained largely a

Muslim garrison town for over three centuries (Bhave, 1936 reprinted 1976,Gadgil,

1952).

About 1630,the town of Pune came under a Hindu officer named Shahaji

Bhosle as part of his hereditary estate or "Jagir" granted by the Muslim King of

Ahmednagar. After Shahaji, his son Shivaji succeeded in organizing the Hindu

peasantry in the surrounding region against Muslim Kingdom. Gradually, Shivaji

established the Maratha kingdom and crowned as the first Maratha King in 1674.

After his death in 1680, Pune sank into political oblivion for several years. In 1708,

the Moghul Emperor declared Shivaji's grandson Shahu as Maratha king at Satara.

Several districts including Pune were granted to Shahu by the Moghul Emperor as

his autonomous territory.

Shahu appointed a Brahmin as his Prime Minister or 'Peshwa" (a Persian title

used by the Muslim kings of the Deccan; Poona Gaz, 11) to look after the

administration at Pune. Later 'Peshwa" became hereditary and the second peshwas

BajiRao I made Pune as his residence in 1720. In 1726, Shahu granted him the town

as a part of his 'Jagir" and thereafter, Pune became the permanent official seat of the

peshwas for nearly a century. In 1749, Shahu left the future of the Maratha

Kingdom in the hands of third Peshwa, who was the commander of Maratha forces.

It was with the rise of Peshwa dynasty to power that the fortunes of Pune rose

(Poona Gaz., IH: 405).

But although Pune enjoyed political status and prosperity it did not enjoy

peace. The military activities of the Peshwas brought reprisals and Pune was

ruthlessly attacked several times: like that by the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1763, by

Scindia (Maratha chiefs of Gwalior) in 1798, by Holkar (Maratha Chief of Indore) in

1803. In 1803,when the last Peshwa BajiRao U sought the British aid in a clash with

Maratha chiefs, it resulted in the involvement of the British in Peshwa's affairs and

after 1803, the British troops were officially stationed at Pune to protect the City

(Poona Gaz., II: 281-82,369). The end of Peshwa rule came with decisive battle of

Kirkee in November 1817,when the Peshwa's troops were defeated by the British

80

troops. Pune city left with only a small garrison and was occupied by the British

forces in a smooth transition. (Meera Kosambi, 1980).

4.2.1 Physical growth and spatial pattern during first Phase:

The fortified wall town of Muslim Kasba Pune formed the nucleus for later

growth. The fort known as Kille Hissar fort was reserved for the garrison and the

town's Muslim inhabitants. Beyond the inner wall, an outer wall surrounded the

civilian Hindu population consisting of artisans, farmers and traders. In the

earlyl630s, Pune came into Shahaji's (Shivaji's father) possession and soon after,

his enemies attacked it and Pune was burnt and razed to the ground. However,

Shahaji made Pune as seat in 1636, and the town was reconstructed according to its

proto type. Small suburban settlements emerged outside the Kasba, and Pune

enjoyed a brief period of peace and prosj3erity. (Poona gaz., HI: 339,402-3; Joshi,

1971). The kasba was surrounded by fringe of semi rural suburbs. To the east of

Kasba, was the oldest suburb called Shahapur contained cultivators, gardeners,

artisans and petty traders. To the north of the Shahapur was Astapur contained

outcaste communities. The southern suburb of Malkapur was a settlement of traders,

the eastern riverbank suburb of Murtazabad was predominated by Brahmins and to

the south east of Kasba was Mohiyabad, added to it during the visit of Moghul

Emperor Aurangzeb to Pune about 1700 (Gadgil, 1952).

The real growth of Pune dates from the time of Peshwa Bajirao I, when a

systematic expansion of the town was under taken. Once the official status of Pune

as a capital city was confirmed by the Peshwas and his nobles, the town started to

grow organically by accretion. The growth of Kasba took place through the addition

of new localities, which were known as 'Pur' or 'Pura' in the early stages and later

raised, to the status of a 'Peth' (i.e. a large division of town). Gradually the peths

grew to be a fairly self-sufficient. Often a peth was a small town, centering on the

founder's mansion and containing one predominant temple, in addition to several

others. (Gadgil, 1952). The old suburbs were annexed to the Kasba as its new peths.

The old Muslim names of the peths were gradually changed to the Hindu names

following the days of the week. (Local traditions trace the origin of these names to

the customs of holding weekly markets in each peth on a specific day of the week.)

Former Shahapur, Astapur, Mohiyabad, Murtazabad and Malkapur were renamed

Somwar (Monday), Mangalwar (Tuesday), Budhwar (Wednesday), Shaniwar

(Saturday), and Raviwar or Adiwar (Sunday) peths, respectively. A new peth called

Shukrawar (Friday) was eatablished in 1734. (Gadgil, 1952). In 1739, Pune was

described as a prosperous, crowded and well built town, with handsome houses and

an impressive gun factory. (Poona gaz., HI: 405). The Town was further extended in

the 1750's with the addition of five new Peths: Guruwar (Thursday) or Vetal peth,

Ganesh peth, Ganj peth, Musafarjung peth and Nihal or Nagesh peth. The early

growth of Pune was southward, bounded as it was by the river on the north, by the

streams Nagasari and Manik nala in the east and by another parallel stream in the

west, which was later, diverted and has disappeared completely. This was the main

reason for the north-south direction of lines of communication in the city.

The physical expansion of Pune, which had so far been largely southward,

assumed an east-west direction in the late 1760's. In the east, the space between

Nagzari and Manik nala was being brought under settlement. Bhawani peth was

located in this area en route to Sholapur, in 1767. In addition to the Kasba and the

eleven peths, two small localities called Karanpura and the Hashampura, both

absorbed into the Sadashiv peth in 1769 came up. (Gadgil, 1952). Narayan peth was

also established about the same time on a strip of land along the river, to the west of

Shaniwar peth. (Poona Gaz.III: 280).

The last phase in the extension of Pune, which transformed it into a city,

began in the 1780's and seems to have resulted from its growing importance and the

concomitant increase in trade due to royal patronage. In 1781, Ghorpade peth was

founded and formed the southernmost extension of the city. To the north of

Bhavani peth, Raste and Nana peths were established during 1785 and 1790

respectively. The Kasba and its seventeen peths, which constituted the indigenous

city, almost until the end of the 19'*' century, were in place by 1790.

By the end of the Peshawa period the compact structure of the city had

changed a great deal, it was more dispersed. Thus Pune city was not laid out

according any regular plan, as its growth was largely haphazard, with the new peths

attached on to the existing ones like appendages. The peths were largely self-

sufficient and often predominated in specific functions. Each peth had its own sets

82

of ethnic mix, shops, temples etc. There were separate residential enclaves for

different castes based on purity, impurity principle. So that the city as a whole

acquired a multi -nucleated cellular structure rather than a unified structure. The

fate of Pune at the time was directly linked to the rise and fall of the Peshwas and

under them (from 1726 to 1817) the city reached its fullest growth.

Table 4.1 Population of Pune from 1760-1901

Sl.No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

YEAR 1760 1800 1815 1850 1872 1881 1891 1901

POPULATION 40,000 60,000 130000 85,000 122082 129550 161390 153320

a l£ 80,000

POPULATION GROWTH

Fig 4.1 Population growth of Pune

83

4.3 Indo British Poona *(1818-1850):

The defeat of the Peshwa and the subsequent British occupation of Pune dealt a

staggering blow to the city, from which it began to recover only in the latter half of the

nineteenth century. The event also altered the character of Pune basically and

permanently. With a change in the balance of pxjwer and military tactics, the Maratha

forts in western India were replaced by military cantonments. In many cases, the

cantonment represented a kind of suburban growth, and thus one of the suburban changes

that took place at the end of the 18''' century was the development of Cantonments. In

1818, Pune acquired both a military Cantonment and Civil Lines. With the establishment

of the cantonment and the civil lines, the importance of Pune increased considerably.

About 1822,another cantonment was established at Kirkee, four miles north west of the

Pune cantonment, on the road to Bombay (Mumbai) (Poona gaz.. Ill: 357-58). At first, it

was cavalry cantonment but later it became the centre for other troops. It became the

headquarters for Bombay Sappers and Miners (B.E.G.) (Samita Gupta, 1985).

The Cantonment was totally separated from the City physically and administratively.

In terms of spatial structure the old and the new Pune showed a major difference in

morphology. The land use of different kinds such as administrative, military, commercial

and residential were mixed in the indigenous city, whereas functional separation of land

use was clearly visible in the British sections, with specially demarcated areas for

administrative, military and commercial purposes. The old city presented a picture of

haphazard, unplanned physical growth and congestion, with clusters of houses lining

narrow crooked streets. The houses in the city ranged from the traditional grand 'wadas'

to simple huts. In contrast to the city, the British sections were meticulously planned, had

broad straight tree lined streets, and were very sparsely populated. The population of the

city was largely homogeneous and indigenous to Maharashtra whereas the population of

the British sections was either foreign or immigrant Indian. Thus, in spite of physical

proximity, the City and the British Cantonment remained largely isolated from each other

being poles apart culturally.

* Note: Ojficially the name Poona was changed to Pune in 1962

83a

Khumbar Ves cause way

N

t

Scale: 1.5 inch lo 1/2 Mile

Fig 4.2 Pune in1300AD

References 1 Inner Fort 2. Potters' Gate 3. Kedar Gate 4. Lai Mahal 5 Maval gate 6 Old Stream

Site for later Shanlwar Wada" \ OM stream

Mohiabad g Hindu Temple

Scale: 1 cmtolOOOFeet

Fig 4.3 Pune about 1650

Source: Town planning and Valuation Department (4.1), Bombay and Poona hv Meera Kosamhi, 1980(4.2)

84

Scale: 1.5 inch to 1/2 Mile

Fig 4.3.1 Pune in 1651 AD

Ghorpadi

To Sholapur

Vanavdi

Scale: 3cm to 1 Mile

Fig 4.4 Pune city and Environs, about 1815

Source: Town planning and Valuation Department (4.2.1), Bombay and Poona by Meera Kosamhi, 1980(4.3)

85

Vrideshwar 5

Onkareshwar /

N

t

\^ S ^ e : 2cm to 50()mts

Later Saniwar weda s|fe (AD 1738

Jakate Put

Kedarves

Scale; 1.6 cm to 100 mts

Fig 4.5 Pune in early 17 century

Note: 'Ves' denotes gate or entrance Source: Pune, Queen of the Deccan (Jaymala Diddee, Samita Gupta 2001)

86

Fig 4.6 Pune about 1703

N

t

Scale: 1.5 inch to 1/2 Mile

N

t

About 1700

1700-1760

1760-1817

Fig 4.7 Growth of Pune, 1700 -1817 Source: Town planning and Valuation Department (4.4), Bombay and Poona by Meera Kosambi, 1980(4.5)

87

Growth of peths

N

t

Scale; 1 inch lo 6(X) mts

Fig 4.8 Growth of peths (1300-1789)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Kasba(1300)

Shaniwar (Before1610)

Raviwar (Before 1610)

Somwar (Before1610)

Mangalwar (1663)

Budwar(1703)

Shukrawar(1734)

Guruwar (1750)

Nihal (1755)

(Redev.1789)

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Ganesh (1755)

Narayan (1761)

Bhavani (1767)

Musafarjang (1768-1831)

Sadashiv(1769)

Ghorpade(1781)

Rasta (1783)

Nana (1789)

Ganj (1789)

Source: CDSA. Pane (1991) As refin Pane, Queen of the Deccan (Jaymala Diddee ,Samita Gupta 2001)

88

N

t

Fig 4.9 PuneCity in 1881

\Jo Bombay

To Bqmba

adnagar

To Miraj

Scale; 1.5 cm to 2 Km

Fig 4.10 Pune City in 1885

Source: Bombay and Poona by Meera Kosambi. 1980(4.7), Town planning and Valuation Department (4.8)

89

4.3.1 Urban Expansion During 1851-1900:

After the mid-nineteenth century Pune started to grow at a steady pace. The

arrival of the whole Bombay government at the beginning of the monsoons soon

changed the morphology of the city. Two major events that shaped the civic growth

of the Pune took place in the 1850s. The great Indian Peninsula railway reached

Pune (1858) and the city acquired a municipality. The expansion of the civil lines

resulted in the formation of a suburban municipality in 1884. A new ward, Shivaji

nagar was created in 1891, to the northwest of the city, enclosing part of the

Bhamburda village, and this ushered in the new development of the city beyond the

river as the garden suburbs. By the end of the nineteenth century, the City and the

British sections were no longer separated by open spaces, but appeared to be a single

continuous settlement through the dichotomous urban morphology remained intact.

The two halves, continued however, to represent distinct functions, spatial patterns

and ethnic characteristics. During this period, other than the physical expansion of

the city, some changes were taking place like the horizontal mobility initiated by the

cantonment.

4.3.2 Growth After 1900

The first fifty years of the 20*'' century were the seminal years for Pune, during

which it had prepared itself unknowingly for a new future, after independence.

From the way, the city had grown throughout the second half of the IQ"' century, it

became evident that further development could only take place across the river,

unless it was to extend to the south in a linear way. The barrier of the river had

remained a hindrance for too long. From 1880 to 1920, the growth of the city

received a set back due to the spread of epidemics like plague and influenza. In

spite of a bridge across the river Lakdipul (1761) and the establishment of the

Fergusson College in 1896, there was not much residential development across the

river till the 1920s.

In the plan of the city municipality, which was adopted in 1917, the importance of

constructing a new bridge was recognized. The Navapul or Lloyds Bridge was

therefore a part of the scheme. The development across the river was accelerated

90

when a new bridge was built across it in front of Siianiwar wada in 1924. The move

across the river became official and planned development took place when the

villages of Erandwane and Bhamburda (Deccan Gymkhana/ Shivaji Nagar) were

incorporated into the City limits in the same year. From 1920, till the Second World

War, was a period of rapid spatial extension of the city. The next two decades after

the war were eventful. Plots for middle class housing, public play grounds; schools,

gardens and markets were reserved. There were provisions for metalling and

widening of roads as well as to improve communications within the city. East-west

roads like Laxmi road and Tilak road were developed during this time.

The thirties and forties saw a building boom in all areas. This was also the age of

housing estate and the first small double or triple storey housing blocks.

Construction of bungalows and housing colonies also transformed the western

wards. Infilling process replaced large agricultural spaces on either side of the road

by middle class housing. In the old core and other peths too urban renewal took

place. Pune became the important centre for making of films in the 1930s and 40s.

A large piece of land in the western suburb was taken up by the Prabhat Film

Company, which was moved from Kolhapur to Pune by V. Shantaram (This is now

FTII -Film and Television Institute of India). The underground drainage and sewage

treatment scheme began in the 1920s continued to make progress throughout the

next twenty years. The municipality worked issues like over waste disposal for the

whole city, including the cantonment and suburban municipalities. Electric

streetlights made their appearance in large numbers in the thirties and the first public

bus service began in 1941, started by a private company called Silver Jubilee Motor

Transport.

The Partition of the country after Independence put an enormous strain on the city

and its infrastructure, with the arrival of the refugees from Pakistan. They settled in

the edge of the city, towards the more cosmopolitan Camp, and in the leftover

spaces, literally sandwiched between the Maharastrian and non-Maharastrian

speaking areas. The unparalleled speed with which large numbers of displaced

people poured in brought the first serious strain to the city's infrastructure. The

temporary refugee camps soon became ram shackled colonies, like the ones in

Pimpri village, on the outskirts of Pune. In 1949, in recognition of its importance as

an education center, the University of Pune was started. With its traditional

importance as a military center Pune was selected as the home of the National

Defence Academy. Another academic Institution, the National Chemical Laboratory

was set up in 1949. The same year the city got its own All India Radio station. In the

fifties, a number of state and central government offices were also set up in Pune.

4.4 Towards an Industrial city (Growth after 1950 - Post Independence period):

With in a few years after Independence the city also got a Sports stadium

{Nehru Stadium), a large auditorium {Bal Gandharv Rang Mandir). These

improvements were due to the most important civic event that took place in 1950;

the Pune municipality was raised to the status of a Corporation. Another type of

planned development, influenced by the gird pattern of the cantonment was seen in

the areas between Deccan gymkhana and Ganeshkhind road. This attracted the

professional class, bureaucrats and other civil servants working in the government

administrative offices in the civil lines. It attracted middle class residences to the

areas between Deccan gymkhana and Ganeshkhind road. These planned

developments also include Koregoan Park and Bund garden, which later developed

as elite areas. There was also an expansion of the municipal limits from a mere

44km2 to 139 km^ when the Corporation was formed. This brought a large rural

segment into the city limits, giving rise to duality in urban development.

4.4.1 The Industrial City:

The city's traditional academic-cum-administrative character notwithstanding

the fifties and sixties heralded a change in Pune's role to that of an industrial city.

This occurred through the rapid improvement of infrastructure, particularly road

constructions and widening, growth of public transport and improvement in health

care, through the control of epidemics. The decision to restrict further industrial

growth in Bombay, which had reached a saturation point, also pushed

industrialization and the industrial units towards Pune. Its proximity and

communication links with Bombay, its congenial climate, its educated and skilled

workforce and the availability of basic infrastructure made it an obvious choice for

the location of new industries.

92

Pune City with two Cantonments and Suburban Municipality

N

t

Ghorpadi

Scale: 3.5 cm to 8 furlongs

Fig 4.11 Pune in 1937

Canal

Road

Railway \ Cantonments

Sub-urban Municipality ' ! City

Source.D.R. Gadgil, 'Ponna-sncio-Economic Survey',1952, GIPEVol No.25, Pune, Part II As refin Pune, Queen of the Deccan (Jaymala Diddee, 2001)

93

Pune's growth- Post Independence Period

To Ba-ramati

Fig 4.12 Rune about 1950

Source: Town Planning and Valuation Department

Scale; 1.5 cm to 2 Km

94

Slums in Pune with dates of origin

Slums with dates of origin

f< Pre-1940

T 19645-1965

^^M River

#

1966-1980

1981-1996

/ \ / Road

Km

Fig 4.13 Slums in Pune

Note: Absence f Slums near Pune and Khadki cantonment areas

Source: Pune Municipal Corporation as referred in 'Pune, Queen of the Deccan' (Jaymala

Diddee, Samita Gupta, 2001)

95

The establishment of Public Sector Hindustan antibiotics at Pimpri in 1953 and

Messrs Kirloskar oil Engines (1946) at Khadki, already pointed to the future. Other

units began to move in the 1960's Ruston and Hornsby Cooper Engineering works

and other Swedish and German companies like Sandvik, Buckau-wolf, Atlas-

CopCo, Alfa Laval and KSB pumps. But it was the big giants like Telco, Bajaj and

other multinationals like Philips, which put Pune on the Industrial map of the

country. This decade set the stage for Heavy Industries and High Technology, which

have come to dominate the economic character of Pune today. This was the time,

when suburban development started around Pune city (V J Malse, 1990).

There is also a concentration of vehicle manufactures which came about in

the 1970s and 1980s, with the Tatas, Bajaj Auto, Mahindras and Kinetic engineering

together employing over 50,000 workers, making Pune, the Auto Capital of the

country. Besides the engineering sector, basic metals, electronics, chemicals, paper,

plastic, glass and petroleum products employ an impressive number of work force.

Pune's industrial development has some peculiarities. It has a diversified structure

and is not dependent on one manufacturing type alone. Location wise to the

northwest of the city lies the Pimpri-Chinchward-Bhosari-Dehuroad industrial belt

in a linear stretch along the Bombay - Pune highway. To the east, on the road to

Ahmednagar are the engineering industries at Ranjangaon. Towards the south are

industries coming up along the Satara road, while within the city they are

concentrated along the Karve and Shanker Seth roads and in the Parvati and

Gultekdi areas.

4.4.2 The First Urban Sprawl of Pune:

Up to 1960, Pune remained the Second Capital of the State as the monsoon

session of the State Legislature was held here. The face of the city changed suddenly

in the 1960s. By the afternoon of 12" July 1961, due to incessant rain a huge amount

of water unleashed by the collapse of the Panshet dam upstream reached Pune, over

topping the bridges and destroying homes. The old city along of the river Mutha

literally crumbled. Following the floods, the compact form of the city dispersed

and it begun to rapidly sprawl outwards into the countryside. This led to an

overnight mushrooming of new residential colonies on all sides of Pune, especially

96

in Kothrud, Parvati and Bibewadi areas. A number of people could not return to

their ancestral homes now lying in ruins, and colonies, which were flood-affected.

People sprouted almost overnight near Parvathi, on the Satara road (Sahakamagar)

and at Kothrud, which soon become a heaven for many who had found the old city

too restrictive and congested. It is seen that, it is usually the young who wish to

move out of the decaying wadas and the crowded alis or lanes to the fresh air of

Kothrud, leaving behind the older generation. This development marked the first

urban sprawl which took place in the earlier sixties after the city leapt across the

river and extended to Deccan and Erandwana area in the West, Shivajinagar towards

the East, Parvati towards the South and the cantonment areas in the North.

In the next two decades, Kothrud became the fastest growing suburb in Asia,

figuring in the Guinness Book of Records in 1988. As the city suddenly broke its

bounds, it became absolutely essential to control and channalize urban growth. Later

in the seventies, the urban sprawl intensified and spread further along all the major

communication lines. On the western side the sprawl extended up to Kothrud,

towards the east to Yerwada and Lohgaon, towards the south Bibwewadi, Hadapsar,

Wanwori and towards the north Baner and Aundh (V J Malse, 1990). Today the

sprawl has moved still further. For example, along the western side it extended up to

Warje, Uttamnagar and beyond Bavdhan.

As middle class residences move outward, the flow of rural migrants was

moving into the slums. These slums came up on the periphery of the middle class

localities along, railway tracks, along the riverbanks and in the interstices of

developed areas; they continued to grow, creeping up the hill slopes and in any

vacant area that was available. These enclaves became the starting points for further

growth of old low-income localities in the city and in the incorporated villages and

offered shelter for brick-kiln, quarry workers and other labourers. Stand-by

settlements came up at Erandwane, kothrud, where early industries began and at

Hadapsar and Khadki, due to availability of employment opportunities in these

areas. By 1976 the slums housed more than a quarter million. Today 40% Pune's

population lives in the slums.

As industry developed and people were absorbed in the factories the percentage

of people engaged in agriculture in the Pune metropolitan region fell. As Pune

97

expanded and the agricultural land around it became urbanized, farmers either

moved out or became laborers in the new factories. Pune witnessed two types of

immigration; the rural folk who are absorbed in informal labour in service oriented

jobs and the highly qualified professionals from other states. When the process of

sub urbanization spreads to the distant suburbs, with inadequate public transport

Pune soon became the ideal market for the motorized two wheelers of all kinds. The

decision to create a flood- control line, where no buildings were allowed ultimately

led to the city turning its back to the river and the slums soon colonized the lifeline

of the city - the riverfront.

4. 5 Pune- Development Plan:

The old Bombay Town-Planning act (1954) was replaced by, the Maharashtra

Regional Town Planning Act (MRTP) of 1966. This was in response to the

unrestricted industrial growth in the Bombay-Pune region and the felt need to have a

more integrated and coordinated development of the metropolitan region falling

within the influence of Bombay. Under the MRTP act, the state government had

established a special area known as Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR), and set up a

planning authority board for a new development Plan. The Regional Plan for the

Pune Metropolitan Region was sanctioned in 1971. At that time itself, it was

recognized that some city-oriented development spilling over into the fringes

beyond the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits was inevitable. Substantial

housing development proceeded without proper planning and permission in the

fringes of the PMC. This was by and large devoid of or largely lacking in facilities

and amenities necessary for good urban living. It was, therefore, decided that the

fringe villages should be brought into the ambit of the adjacent Municipal

Corporations as these alone will be better able to provide the inputs necessary for

improving the quality of life of existing residents, remove the current shortcomings

of the un regulated development that has emerged, restructure and control future

development on orderly lines. Accordingly, under notification in 1997, 38 fringe

villages contiguous to the PMC limits were merged in the Pune Municipal

Corporation. Meanwhile on 17 November 2001, the State Government revised its

earlier notification and excluded fifteen villages fully and five villages partly from

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the PMC limits. At present only 23 fringe villages have been merged with in the

PMC, in which 18 villages, were fully merged and five villages, were partly

included. Development Plan (DP) for these 23 villages was approved by the City

Improvement Committee (CIC) and General body on December 27 2002.

4.6 Present Scenario:

According to Crane (1955), there are three types of cities namely an

administrative centre, manufacturing centre and a coastal trade emporium produced

by historical urbanism. Of these three types, Crane recognizes, Pune as an

administrative centre, a city largely dependent on the ruler and sensitive to change in

his fortunes. Pune as a typical administrative centre rose to prominence as the

capital of Peshwas. The Prosperity of Pune was totally dependent on its ruler and

this was demonstrated by its decline soon after the Peshwa's fall, and the effect of

New British Urbanism created a new Pune alongside the old city. With respect to the

cultural role of the city (Redfield and Singer, 1954) Pune may be identified as an

indigenous Administrative- Cultural city. But today, it plays altogether a different

role as in some case, it is a prospering city for all IT oriented and service related

activities and in some case as an alternative to saturating Mumbai and in some ways

a better option than Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Pune's industrial growth barely spans three decades. This growth was

accelerated mainly because of its proximity and easy accessibility to Bombay and

owing to the restrictions imposed by the state government on further industrial

expansions in Bombay. Today, several National and Multi Nafional Companies have

chosen Pune to base their operations and have tied up with local companies. The

electronic and software industry has flourished due to the availability of trained and

capable manpower in plenty. The software development park and 100 per cent of

EOU, NIC, and C-DAC have created an excellent infrastructure, which is at the real

core of the software industry. Recently the IT industry has been viewing Pune to be

a better prospect over Bangalore. PMC with the director of industries has announced

special benefits to attract and facilitate the entry of software industry in Pune. A

separate zone has been allotted, speedy clearances and infrastructural facilities are

being offered to woo these projects. Because of that, Pune has attracted around 43

per cent of the industry in this sector. Skilled manpower, good infrastructure, high

99

percentage of talented youth from all over India, is making Pune, obviously a

preferred choice over other cities in the years to come.

The number of companies setting up their branches in the city has registered a

stupendous rise in the couple of years. This is because the government has taken

various steps to promote entrepreneurship and to the development of Pune as an

emerging metro. The development of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) at

Hinjewadi, International Convention Centre (ICC) - country's only composite

business centre, coming up along the Senapati Bapat road and the construction of an

International airport at Chakan, which received a nod from the Ministry of Defence,

are likely to sustain the industrial boom. The number of branded foods and coffee

outlets have mushroomed, the number of multiplexes has gone up to three, BPO

firms are increasing day by day and the city has become a choice destination for job

hunters. ^^'1JD^X&

The Multi National Companies with their base at Pune are bringing along

hordes of young professionals. There is a healthy demand for apartments and as a

result, residential complexes have started coming up on the city's outskirts, where

the land cost is relatively low. Luxuries have been replaced by utility features in

schemes, which targeted at middle and higher-middle income groups and society-

building based on cultural backgrounds of customers has increased. Apart from the

heavy influx of professionals, easy availability of low-interest (7.5 to 8.25%) Home

Loans and the Punekars's gradual shift from the old city areas to the newly

developing ones are factors helping the builders' cause. The Punekar is slowly but

surely moving to areas like Erandwane, Kothrud, Karvenagar, and Malwadi and

along the Paud, Shankarsheth and Solapur roads, where prices of new flats are in the

range of Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per sq.ft and that of the old ones in the range of Rs

900 to Rs 1,500 per sq.ft. The Price goes down as the distance of a residential

society goes up from down town Deccan and old city areas.

More and more Mumbaikars are buying properties in Aundh, Baner, Pashan

and Pirangut areas, for their proximity to the Pune-Mumbai express way. While

those looking for cosmopolitan neighbourhood are investing in Yerwada,

Vimananagar, Wanowarie, Kondhwa, LuUanagar, Salunkhe Vihar, KalyaniNagar,

Boat club road areas and extensions of Koregaon Park. Those from the higher

100

income group are buying flats in Erandwane, Aundh, KalyaniNagar and Salunkhe

Vihar, wiiere the cost of property is Rs 2,000 per sq.ft and above. With the city

expanding horizontally, row houses and bungalows have become affordable. Areas

like Kondhwa, Undri, Pisoli and Mohammedwadi where residential and commercial

spaces are cheap attract more people from the crowded city.

4.7 A simple Model of Pune's development:

After discussing the growth in detail, Modelling of the milestones in Pune's

spatial growth was given a thought, to give a better insight to comprehend its

development in a lucid way.

In the early period of Pune's growth, was purely controlled by the geographical

factors. As the Kasba developed near the Sangam of Mula and Mutha Rivers, these

rivers formed its north and western boundaries and the town could grow only

towards south. Even though the streams along the eastern side were not the major

impediments for its growth, the city did not spread much towards the east. Since the

city was compact, the transportation was mostly pedestrian and horse drawn

palkhies were used. During Peshwa period, the city was charcterised by Peths and

Wadas of caste based neighborhoods. This Physical and spatial arrangements of the

city were the unique products of particular society, and culture operating within a

given distribution of power.

After the British conquest, and the development of Poona and Khadki

Cantonments, the indigenous city was crammed in between these two cantonments.

After 1920, construction of bridges across the rivers, construction of new roads in

the east-west direction, reinforced the growth along western side. Development of

Deccan Gymkhana took place and bicycles, tongas, and automobiles, buses were the

means of transport. Development of Town planning schemes and suburban

Municipality led the middle class developments across the river in the western side

of the city.

After Independence, establishment of Public sector industries and many

Central Government organizations transformed the city into an Industrial city. After

the flood in 1961, the compact nature of the city was dispersed. People started

moving away from the core, because of the loss of their property as well as for

101

safety. With advent of automobiles in a larger scale and their affordability by the

middle-income class, the city started spreading rapidly. This rapid development

went beyond the urban limit and the need was felt for channelising its growth.

Nearby fringe villages were brought into city limit and development plans were

prepared for an organized development. The city skyline was changed with high-rise

buildings and ornamental style was reintroduced. Because of poor Public transport,

the city is now crowded with two wheelers, cars, six seaters, and taxies and getting

more polluted. The recent report submitted in the parliament positioned Pune as 13"

most polluted city (T'in Metros) in India (Times of India dated 23Aug 2005).

In addition to natural growth, migration also contributes to major share for

city's high population growth and its sprawling. Not only the youth of Maharashtra

but also those from other parts of the country look up to Pune for employment

opportunities. The faith in the city's potential to provide jobs is so deep rooted, that

parents from all over India are sending their wards to Pune, not for education alone,

as was the trend earlier, but for a better life. For example, Pune is heading towards

becoming the first Wi-Fi (Wireless connectivity that allows internet access within

the area) city in the World. Pune has been selected because it is smaller compared to

Hyderabad and Bangalore. Another added advantage is that it has been selected to

develop one of the "Economic growth clusters" out of five cities at the national

level. At the same time, over the last two years Pune has established itself as a

world-class centre for IT. The City has no more remained a pensioner's paradise, in

its new avatar, it has metamorphosed into one for a prosperous life.

102

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Growth of Pune

Fig 4.13 Growth of Pune (1820-2001)

1820

1820-1890 •

1890-1950 1

1950 - 1970

• 1970-2001

1 After 2001

Source: www.punemahanagarpalika (website of Pune Municipal Corporation)

104

In short, Pune started its career as a small garrison town like thousands of

others and grew to prominence under the Marathas and the Peshwas until the 18'

century. After British conquest and occupation Pune lost its earlier Capital city

functions and became the new administrative and military centre in the IQ'*" century.

Because of its tradition of learning it emerged as the largest educational centre in

Western India. It was only during the post independence era that the establishment

and rapid growth of Industry took place at Pune, which initiated the Industrial

development of the 20th century. In the 21^' century, Pune is poised to become the

IT hub of the future. Thus Pune had undergone a complete makeover during

different periods of its urban revolution, spreading its tentacles far and wide. This

brief profile of major phases in Pune's growth will help to understand the causes for

the rapid growth of Pune during past decade and its chances of further growth in

near future. This rapid growth had altered most of the rural land in the rural fringe.

A detailed study of land use and land cover of Pune city had been attempted in the

next chapter.

105