Unwavering faith in innovation over interference: Fadnavis
In a bid to maintain its leading position, the city of Pune is addressing its infrastructure challenges and capitalising on its strengths to compete with emerging industrial hubs.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was in Pune to sign an MoU with Niti Aayog for the Pune Metropolitan Region Growth Hub, emphasised the need for Pune to focus on innovative hubs and streamline services in key industrial zones such as Hinjawadi and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Pune's infrastructure deficiencies, including power outages, waterlogging, poor road conditions, and fragmented administrative coordination, are threats to its industrial leadership. However, the government is taking coordinated efforts to improve infrastructure, ensure uninterrupted utilities, enhance road maintenance, and streamline services.
The central government is planning to declare Pune as one of the five new economic growth hubs, joining the ranks of cities like Mumbai and Bangalore. Fadnavis highlighted that Pune's biggest strengths are its manpower and innovation. He also mentioned that industries are now attracted by skilled manpower rather than land and capital.
The city's industrial real estate sector is booming, outpacing even Mumbai due to lower land costs and better infrastructure. This expansion supports growth in manufacturing, warehousing, logistics parks, and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), attracting diverse industries like automotive, pharmaceuticals, and food processing.
To address the infrastructure gaps, sustained inter-agency coordination under dedicated nodal authorities is essential to provide time-bound resolutions. Proactive monitoring of power and water supply by agencies like MSEDCL and repairing roads and waste management in industrial areas are also crucial. Regular engagement with industry associations ensures real-time problem-solving and continuous improvement.
Furthermore, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) is tasked with prioritising infrastructure upgrades to support industrial growth. The government also needs to approve required permissions within a timeframe, as stated by Fadnavis, to avoid projects becoming "generation projects" with no output.
However, Pune faces competition from cities like Sambhajinagar, which is rapidly developing as an industrial hub, particularly in the EV sector. Fadnavis suggested that a change in the socio-political system for industries is necessary to improve the situation in Pune.
Despite these challenges, Pune currently leads in manufacturing, IT, automobile, and education, but there are many more sectors with potential, such as agri-processing and urban tourism. The city is poised to maintain its position as a leading growth hub in the country with the right strategies and investments in infrastructure and industry.
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- The government, in collaboration with Niti Aayog, aims to improve Pune's infrastructure and foster innovation in key industrial zones like Hinjawadi and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
- Pune's potential as an economic growth hub is being highlighted by the central government, potentially joining cities like Mumbai and Bangalore.
- Skilled manpower and innovation are attracting industries to Pune's industrial real estate sector, which is booming and outpacing Mumbai.
- To overcome infrastructure deficiencies, agencies must work together under dedicated authorities, ensuring timely resolution of issues and upgrading utilities like power and water supplies.
- The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation is tasked with prioritizing infrastructure upgrades to support industrial growth, and the government must expedite necessary permissions to avoid delays.
- Pune faces competition from emerging industrial hubs such as Sambhajinagar, particularly in the EV sector, suggesting a need for changing the socio-political system for industries to maintain its leading position.
