• Pune includes cantonment boards of Pune, Khadki and Dehu road, which are governed by the country’s cantonment laws. The Pune Municipal Corporation development funds, MP or the MLA funds cannot be utilized for the development projects in cantonment areas. This has led to a disparity in the development in PMC areas which is faster compared to slower development in cantonment areas. The last elections held in cantonment areas were in February 1997 and the tenure of elected representatives was extended by one more year in 2002. The old obsolete cantonment needed urgent modifications to suit present conditions. Suresh Kalmadi, owing to his involvement in the Lok Sabha Defence committee, was familiar with the issues concerning cantonments and took the lead in changing the old cantonment laws. As a result of constant follow up with the Defence Ministry, he finally succeeded in getting the old laws changed in 2002. The new laws enable participation of MPs and MLAs in the working of cantonment boards. MP and MLA funds could now be used for development in these areas. In these areas, polls were conducted under new laws in 2008. Political parties participated with their signs and symbols in these polls.



• Defence Roads under Khadki, Pune and Dehu road cantonments came under the PMC for repairs, thanks to the efforts put in by Kalmadi. The residents of these areas largely benefited because of this. There is a norm for allotting 1.5 FSI instead of 1 in the Secunderabad Cantonment. Kalmadi questioned this disparity and demanded that a uniform norm should be adopted for all cantonment boards. Of all the 62 cantonment boards in the country, there is a demand to have one Rajya Sabha member from them, and Kalmadi is also seriously contemplating the issue.



• The old Mumbai – Pune road in Khadki cantonment was given a make over with concretization, widening, and beautification under the aegis of JNNURM. The Pimpri Chichwad Municipal Corporation undertook work on the stretch from Nigdi to Dapodi and the PMC did it from College of Engineering to the Hatcheries Centre. However, a half km stretch between Harris Bridge (Bopodi) to Anupamnagari Society is facing opposition from some residents and Kalmadi is personally looking at the issues involved. The 2.5 km road between Khadki Railway station and the Hatcheries Centre is widened to 23 metres. This is soon going to be concretized at a cost of Rs.30 cr.



• Kalmadi is focusing on developing a sports stadium at Golibar Maidan and the Defence Ministry has approved the project. This is estimated to be done at an expenditure of Rs 3.5 cr with facilities like swimming pool, lawn tennis, basketball courts, auditorium and a party lawn. This was in demand for 20 long years and is Kalmadi’s initiative now that will make it possible.



• A new 2.5 km long CNG line is underway in the Khadki Cantonment board. A sports stadium on the Osman road and Mumbai Pune Highway square is also on Kalmadi’s agenda. The stadium, estimated at a cost of Rs 18 cr is expected.

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