On Fadnavis agenda — making Pune IT capital of India

Industry insiders say if Pune has to be made an attractive IT hub, several roadblocks need to be cleared by the new BJP  government.  The state government had 10 years back formulated a special IT policy to develop the IT sector.

Senior officials in the CMO said that over a year or so, the state government will take steps to boost IT industry in the city.

“There would be policy level interventions to help in the growth of the industry in the area. A series of measures will be announced to turn Pune into a major IT destination,” the CMO official said. Roadblocks hindering growth of IT industry would be identified and addressed. Other than interacting with industry experts the government plans to form a special cell to achieve the objective.

One of the major roadblocks is lack of proper infrastructure for IT employees to commute. Be it Hinjewadi or the IT park of Magarpatta, many point out how they lose time commuting due to lack of proper roads. “Commuting to and fro from Hinjewadi is a nightmare during peak hours. The sudden explosion of vehicles on roads creates traffic snarls that go on for long. On an average, it takes an hour or so to cover the small stretch connecting Hinjewadi to the highway,” said Rohan Apte, a senior IT professional working in Pune.

Gautam Rege, co-founder of Josh Software, agrees that the main roadblock is lack of a proper road network. The other hindrances are water scarcity and lack of a good public transport system. “The main reasons why several companies moved out of Bengaluru are lack of infrastructure and the high cost of living. If Pune has to cash in (on IT) there has to be urgent investments in road networks and public transport,” he said. Pune has many positives in terms of product based innovation, which has to be put to use properly, said Rege.