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Ahead of civic polls, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis promises Metro connectivity in Kondhwa

The Kondhwa area, which falls under the Hadapsar Assembly segment, was earlier a Shiv Sena bastion but the NCP managed to gain political hold here over the years.

2 min readDec 16, 2025 02:53 PM IST

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis (Photo/ X @CMOMaharashtra)

In an apparent bid to make a dent in the prospects of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Sharad Pawar’s NCP(SP) during the civic polls in Pune’s Kondhwa area, the BJP has promised to develop the Metro rail network in the region, besides improving road connectivity.

On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanavis assured that the road work from Katraj to Kondhwa will be completed soon. “The Kondhwa area will be connected to other parts of the city through Metro rail for a seamless commute. Approval will be given to extension of Metro rail from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar route to Yewalewadi, extension of Swargate to Katraj route to Kondhwa and to the proposed Purandar airport,” he said, while speaking at the inauguration of a statue of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji at Kondhwa Budruk.

Kondhwa, which falls under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), goes to polls on January 15, 2026, along with other municipal corporations across Maharashtra. The results will be declared on January 16.

BJP legislator Yogesh Tilekar, who also spoke at the event on Monday, said he will work towards the development of the Kondhwa area under the party’s rule. The area, which has long been dominated by the NCP, is part of the Hadapsar Assembly segment. The region also falls under the Shirur parliamentary seat, which is represented by the NCP(SP)’s Amol Kolhe.

Incidentally, Tilekar had lost the Assembly election from the area in 2019 to Chetan Tupe of the NCP. He could not contest the seat in the 2024 Assembly elections as it was given to the Ajit Pawar-led NCP as part of the seat-sharing arrangement for the polls.

The area was earlier a Shiv Sena bastion but the NCP managed to gain political hold in the Hadapsar constituency over the years. In the previous civic elections, the NCP dominated the area by winning the most seats in the election to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Four of the party’s six mayors in Pune have been from the area.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With over 22 years of experience in the industry, he is a highly specialized journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, governance, and sustainability. Professional Background Role: As Assistant Editor, he plays a key role in the editorial direction of the Pune bureau, specializing in urban policy and its direct impact on citizens. Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He also studied at the prestigious Fergusson College. Impactful Reporting: He is credited with research-based articles on conservancy staff (waste workers) that influenced national policy for better working conditions. He is also known for exposing the contrast between high-end infrastructure (like helipads for leaders) and the lack of basic amenities like schools in their home districts. Personal Interests: An avid trekker and sports enthusiast, his personal interest in the outdoors often informs his reporting on environmental protection and sustainable development. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) His reporting in late 2025 has been dominated by the upcoming January 2026 Civic Polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the city's infrastructure boom: 1. Political Analysis (Civic Elections 2026) "Not friendly but a bitter fight lies ahead between BJP and NCP for PMC, PCMC" (Dec 22, 2025): A detailed look at the intense rivalry between the Mahayuti partners as they prepare for the January 15 municipal elections. "Pune civic polls: Big blow to NCP, NCP(SP) as leaders switch to BJP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on high-profile poaching and party-hopping ahead of the elections. "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): Analyzing the results of the local self-government body elections as a precursor to the main civic polls. 2. Infrastructure & Urban Development "Looking Ahead at 2026: Pune to see inauguration of much-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro route" (Dec 22, 2025): An "outlook" piece on the critical Metro Line 3 project expected to finish by March 2026. "Building Pune: PMC to construct double-decker bridge over Mula-Mutha River" (Dec 18, 2025): Detailing a major project aimed at easing traffic between Hadapsar and Kharadi. "Condition of highway from Pune to Kolhapur to improve in a year: Gadkari" (Dec 4, 2025): Reporting on the Union Minister’s assurances regarding one of the state's most critical transport corridors. 3. Civic Governance & Environment "Install sensors, LED indicators at construction sites within 15 days: PMC to builders" (Dec 16, 2025): A follow-up to the "Breathless Pune" series, reporting on new mandates for builders to monitor air quality in real-time. "Errors in electoral rolls: PMC corrects data of 92,466 voters" (Dec 16, 2025): Tracking the administrative efforts to clean up the voter lists before the 2026 elections. Signature Style Ajay Jadhav is known for accountability journalism. His work often bridges the gap between high-level policy and the "ground zero" reality of Pune's residents. He is particularly focused on Sustainable Development, ensuring that as Pune grows into a "Bharat Mandapam" style destination (referring to his report on the Lohegaon project), its environmental and social safeguards remain intact. X (Twitter): @ajay_khape ... Read More

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