Pune, 29th September 2026: The Maharashtra government has set a target of transforming the Pune Economic Region into a $200–220 billion economy by 2036, with planned investments of ₹9–10 lakh crore and the creation of 12–20 lakh additional jobs.
The comprehensive development plan was presented at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai under the NITI Aayog's Growth Hub initiative.
The roadmap includes 58 priority projects focusing on manufacturing, information technology, tourism, agriculture, public transport, affordable housing and environmental protection. The plan aims to increase Pune's economic growth rate from the current 6–6.5% to 10% and strengthen its contribution to Maharashtra's goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2047.
The development plan identifies manufacturing, automobiles, electric vehicles, engineering, defence, robotics, drones, electronics, semiconductors and biotechnology as key sectors for expansion. It proposes establishing electric vehicle and future mobility hubs, high-tech engineering parks, electronics and defence technology centres, and robotics manufacturing facilities.
These sectors are expected to generate 4–5 lakh additional jobs. The roadmap also aims to increase the number of startups to more than 10,000 and provide training in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cybersecurity to 1.5–2 lakh technology professionals.
The Pune Economic Region currently has around 56 lakh jobs and a population of approximately 1.5 crore. The plan targets 74–76 lakh jobs over the next decade, with employment opportunities expected across manufacturing, services, healthcare, education, tourism, agriculture processing and transport.
The plan aims to position the Pune Economic Region among India's top 10 tourism destinations. It identifies six priority areas: heritage and lake tourism, adventure and sports tourism, medical and wedding tourism, event tourism, wildlife tourism, and religious and cultural tourism.
Major proposals include a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj fort circuit connecting Shivneri, Lohagad, Rajgad and Sinhagad, water tourism centres at Pawana and Bhatghar, a 600-km Sahyadri trekking route, a medical tourism corridor and a leopard safari in Junnar. The Pune International Exhibition and Convention Centre (PIECC) is also proposed for development as an event and entertainment destination.
Agriculture and food processing are expected to play a significant role in the region's economic growth. The roadmap focuses on grapes, bananas, pomegranates, figs and strawberries, along with dairy farming, cold storage, food processing and biofuel projects. It aims to increase the sector's gross value added from $5 billion to $10–12 billion through improved processing facilities and supply chains.
The government plans to increase the share of public transport in daily travel from the current 13% to 50%. The proposed infrastructure expansion includes 250 km of metro lines, 11 railway projects, 13 road projects, 12,000–14,000 buses and six multimodal transport hubs. These measures are intended to improve connectivity and reduce dependence on private vehicles.
Affordable housing and slum rehabilitation are also major components of the plan. The roadmap targets the rehabilitation of 90% of eligible slum households by 2036 and proposes constructing 4–5 lakh affordable homes for industrial workers, students and other income groups. This includes one lakh workers' hostel beds, along with cluster-based redevelopment of densely populated areas.
The plan also addresses the region's growing water requirements, estimated at an additional 200 million litres per day. Proposed measures include bringing seven TMC of water from Mulshi, increasing supplies from the Bhama basin, improving distribution networks, reusing treated wastewater and desilting reservoirs.
The roadmap proposes expanding skill development programmes, industrial training and university courses to improve employment opportunities for women and young people. Training in electric vehicles, electronics, robotics and biotechnology will be prioritised to meet the requirements of emerging industries.
Policy reforms covering semiconductors, industrial worker housing, tourism, startups, industrial parks, slum redevelopment and integrated townships have also been proposed.
A regulatory council chaired by the Chief Minister, a state steering committee headed by the Chief Secretary, a Pune Growth Hub steering committee and a project management unit under the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) are proposed to oversee implementation.
The Pune Growth Hub initiative was launched on August 1, 2025, with the participation of NITI Aayog, the Maharashtra government and the Pune International Centre. The development plan covers areas under the Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and PMRDA. It was prepared following consultations with citizens, industries, educational institutions and local organisations.