In a bid to alleviate traffic congestion in Hinjawadi, the Information Technology hub in Pune, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has proposed infrastructure projects worth ₹650 crore. This comes soon after Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant directed MIDC officials to address the issues in Hinjawadi on a priority basis.
Among the proposed projects are widening of the road between Shivaji Chowk and Smashan Bhumi Chowk would cost ₹25 crore, developing a 5 km stretch on the highway towards Maan village at ₹584 crore, a four-lane flyover of 720 metres in length over Lakshmi Chowk and a six-lane road from Baner to Hinjawadi. Besides, the MIDC is also in the process of installing 280 CCTV cameras to cover the entire IT Park area at ₹7 crore.
Last month, after taking charge of the industries ministry for the second consecutive time, Samant held a meeting with the Hinjawadi Industries Association (HIA). The meeting was attended by MIDC chief engineer Nitin Wankhede, regional officer Archana Pathare and other industry representatives. A total of 17 issues were discussed in the meeting ranging from traffic congestion to solid waste management and electricity shortages to high accommodation costs in Hinjawadi.
Archana Pathare, regional officer, MIDC, stated that the infrastructure decisions were delayed due to the model code of conduct enforced during the elections. "Following the minister’s intervention, departments have been directed to expedite these projects," she added.
Earlier in June this year, the HIA had claimed that 37 companies had shifted out of Hinjawadi IT Park in the past 10 years because of the deteriorating conditions of the infrastructure and traffic congestion in the locality. However, the MIDC refuted the claim and said it does not have any such information. Following this, Samant blamed the opposition and said it was trying to create a negative narrative.
