To enhance accountability and expedite the building approval process, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has issued new orders decentralizing approval powers within the building permission department. This replaces a 2010 directive that concentrated authority at the deputy engineer level. Under the new system, projects with a total built-up area below 2,000 square metres will be approved by deputy engineers, while those between 2,000 sq m and 10,000 sq m will need executive engineer approval. Proposals exceeding 10,000 sq m, along with those requiring environmental clearance, will require the approval of a superintending engineer. The revised structure aims to streamline decision-making and reduce operational bottlenecks, particularly for large-scale construction projects. Civic activists have welcomed the change, noting its potential to improve transparency and accountability in the department, which has faced criticism for fostering unhealthy practices due to concentrated decision-making powers.