Pune: The state government on Wednesday published a notification in the gazette declaring the merger of 23 villages in the limits of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). With this merger, Pune city now has an official area of 561 square kilometres which is more than Mumbai or any other city in the state. Pune has become the biggest city in the state of Maharashtra.

The merger of the 23 villages will have larger implications on the political and socio-economical development of the city. About 5.5 lakh poputation will be added under the jurisdiction of PMC. This will impact the voting patterns in the new wards that would be created for the PMC civic body elections and the assembly election constituencies. The present gram panchayat elections announced in three villages of Autade-Handewadi, Shewalewadi and Wadachiwadi may also get cancelled.

The issue of merger of 34 villages in the limits of PMC was pending for about 20 years. The then Devendra Fadnavis led state government had initiated the merger process of 11 villages out of the 34 villages. The remaining villages were left out for lack of development funds.

The present Uddhav Thackeray led state government had also stated in the court that the remaining villages will be included in phases. However, in a sudden turn of events, the government took the decision to officially merge these villages in PMC.

The Urban Development department of the state government on Wednesday (December 23) has published a notification in the Maharashtra Government Gazette, Extraordinary, Part1A, Central Sub-Division.

Areas to be included in city are as follows:

Mhalunge, Sus, Bavdhan Budruk, Kirkitwadi, Pisoli, Kondhawe-Dhavade, Kopare, Nanded, Khadakwasla, Manjari Budruk, Narhe, Holkarwadi, Autade-Handewadi, Wadachiwadi, Shewalewadi, Nandoshi, Sanas Nagar, Mangdewadi, Bhilarewadi, Gujar Nimbalkarwadi, Jambhulwadi, Kolewadi, Wagholi

Revised boundaries of the Pune city are as follows:

North: Kalas, Dhanori, Lohegaon village

North-East: Lohegaon, Wagholi village

East: Manjari Budruk, Shewalewadi, Phursungi village

South-East: Uruli Devachi, Holkarwadi, Autade-Handewadi village

South: Dhayari, Wadachiwadi, Yewalewadi, Kolewadi, Bhilarewadi village

South-West: Nanded, Khadakwasla, Nandoshi, Kopare village

West: Kondhawe-Dhavade, Bavdhan Budruk, Bavdhan Khurd, Mhalunge, Sus village

North-West: Baner, Balewadi village and old limits of Pune Municipal Corporation