The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) will set up modern sewage treatment plants (STPs) in 230 villages to address sanitation needs for the next 25 years.

The project, to be completed in three phases, will begin with tenders for Phase 1 in October 2025. The first phase covers 14 major villages including Lavale, Pirangut, Maan, Bhugaon, Shirur, Kesanand, and Theur, with land already acquired in five locations. Open sewers will be closed and connected to main lines leading to STPs, which will be built individually or in clusters, primarily along streams.

PMRDA Commissioner Yogesh Mhase said the plan will improve sanitation, conserve water, and support sustainable growth. This is the first detailed sewage management DPR for the PMRDA region, excluding PMC and PCMC areas. Villages will be prioritised by population size — over 50,000, then 30,000, then 20,000. The budget, initially Rs 300 crore, is now estimated at Rs 600 crore, with an 18-month timeline for each phase.