India, Feb. 13 -- The state government has withdrawn the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority's (PMRDA) role as the planning authority for 23 villages and has handed over the responsibility to the Pune Municipal Corporation, minister of state for urban development Madhuri Misal said on Thursday. The villages were merged into the PMC limits in 2021.

An official notification issued by the urban development department on Wednesday formalised the decision. Misal said the move would ensure integrated and streamlined planning for development plan approvals, construction permissions, infrastructure creation and delivery of civic services in the merged villages.

"The decision will help speed up unified planning for these areas. Admini...