Pune: The proposed merger of Khadki and Pune Cantonment Boards into the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has encountered significant delays due to an unresolved dispute over the ownership of properties within the cantonment areas.

Although the central government had outlined the procedure for the merger, the process has been halted, as the municipal corporation insists that the ownership of lands and assets within the cantonment limits should be transferred to its jurisdiction.

Last month, the municipal corporation received formal instructions to proceed with the transfer, prompting a meeting between officials from the municipal corporation, cantonment boards, and district administration.

In this meeting, decisions were made regarding the transfer of responsibilities to various departments, and the concerned departments were notified by the corporation.

While this process was underway, the state's urban development department held an online meeting with municipal officials, during which the issue of property ownership was raised by the corporation.

The municipal corporation requested that ownership rights of existing hospitals, parks, amenity spaces, markets, and other civic projects should be transferred to the corporation if it is to provide civic services.

The state government has since informed the defense department about this issue, but no decision has been made yet, leading to a delay in the merger of the boards.

Once the merger is complete, the municipal corporation's area will increase by 1,500 square kilometers, and the population is expected to grow by 80,000 to 90,000.