Deputy CM Ajit Pawar visited Hinjawadi at 6 AM to assess civic issues and traffic congestion, following complaints and protests by IT engineers.
He warned that action under IPC Section 353 will be taken against anyone obstructing government work, regardless of their identity.
Pawar also reprimanded local leaders, highlighting the decline of Pune’s IT dominance due to poor infrastructure, and urged officials to act swiftly.
Pune, 26 July 2025: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Pune district guardian minister Ajit Pawar visited the Rajiv Gandhi IT Park in Hinjawadi early Saturday morning to review ongoing civic issues and increasing traffic congestion. This marks his second visit in two weeks, following heavy rains in May that exposed severe infrastructure problems in the area.
The IT hub, once a symbol of Pune’s tech growth, has been facing issues such as waterlogging, traffic jams, and poor civic facilities. Dissatisfied with the pace of work, engineers from the area had even staged protests demanding urgent solutions.
Taking note of the unrest, Pawar had earlier issued instructions to officials, and Saturday’s visit was aimed at checking whether implementation had begun.
During the visit, Pawar stressed that no one should obstruct development work. He instructed Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinaykumar Choubey to file cases under IPC Section 353 against anyone, including political leaders, who interfere in government operations. “If anyone tries to create obstacles, even if it’s Ajit Pawar himself, action must be taken under Section 353. Only then will work progress,” Pawar told the officials.
Pawar also expressed frustration with local leadership. As he was about to leave Hinjawadi, the local sarpanch tried to speak with him. Pawar responded firmly, saying, “You say what you have to; I know what needs to be done. Hinjawadi’s condition has worsened. Companies are shifting from Pune to Hyderabad and Bengaluru. I wouldn’t be here at 6 AM if I wasn’t serious about this.”
The inspection was attended by MLA Shankar Mandekar, Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar, Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, PMRDA Commissioner Yogesh Mhase, and ZP CEO Gajanan Patil, among others.
Pawar reiterated the importance of prioritising infrastructure development in Hinjawadi, stating that Pune’s image and IT economy depend on resolving these long-standing civic issues.