Pune: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, during an interaction at the Pune Public Policy Festival (PPPF) in Pune, addressed questions about the development of Pune International Airport at Purandar and the challenges of implementing projects in the city. His candid remarks and humorous anecdotes entertained the audience and shed light on the hurdles of project execution in Pune.

When asked whether Pune Airport would become a reality during his tenure, Fadnavis replied, "That's an excellent question. People asked me similar questions about Mumbai Airport, and I delivered. They doubted the Trans-Harbour Link, a concept envisioned by J.R.D. Tata in the 1960s, and I made it happen. People even doubted the Coastal Road project, but we proved it could be done."

Recounting the Journey of the Samruddhi Expressway

Fadnavis shared his experience with the Samruddhi Expressway project, saying, "When I first presented the concept, even some of my friends ridiculed the idea. Many editors I invited for a presentation privately admitted it was a great project but doubted it would materialize. Despite skepticism, we made it a reality."

Challenges in Pune

Devendra Fadnavis turned the discussion to Pune, emphasizing its importance as the cultural, productive, and technological hub of Maharashtra. However, he noted, "Executing projects in Pune is extremely challenging."

His statement sparked laughter, especially as he elaborated, "The reason is simple—Pune is home to so many intellectuals with so many ideas, and everyone wants to prove how the other person's idea is wrong."

Fadnavis’s humorous explanation of Pune’s unique intellectual environment struck a chord with the audience, showcasing both the city's vibrancy and the difficulties of aligning diverse perspectives for development projects.