With Ajit Pawar’s passing, weeks after Suresh Kalmadi, Pune loses its second dynamic leader in a month

Though Kalmadi, who passed away on January 6 after a prolonged illness, and Ajit Pawar fought for dominance in the PMC, both were instrumental in driving the city’s development through major government infrastructure projects.

“I came in touch with Ajit Pawar during my tenure as Pune mayor. He kept aside politics and took steps to control the situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. He always took me into confidence while making decisions for the city,” Union minister and former Pune mayor Murlidhar Mohol recalled.

Before 2007, Ajit Pawar had proved his mettle through development work in the industrial town of Pimpri Chinchwad, where an undivided NCP held full control over the civic body. He was also responsible for spearheading initiatives such as wide roads and other infrastructure projects.

At the same time, the Congress was in power in the PMC, with Kalmadi in control. The Congress leader secured funding from the Centre to widen and concretise roads during the Commonwealth Youth Games. The Bus Rapid Transit System was also introduced to provide an efficient public transport system for the city. Kalmadi also proposed the Pune Metro, which was later implemented during the BJP rule. He also got funding to improve the Mula and Mutha rivers.

In 2007, the Congress lost control of the Pune civic body to the NCP under Ajit Pawar. However, he not only continued the development projects started during the Congress tenure but also advanced new initiatives.

It was under NCP rule that the extension of PMC’s civic limits gained momentum as Ajit Pawar emphasised planned development in the rapidly urbanising suburbs. He also pushed for flyover projects to ease traffic congestion and supported the strengthening of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited bus service.

Ajit Pawar was also tracking the under-construction Ring Road project being developed by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which will open for vehicles in phases from next year. He also got road infrastructure projects approved for the industrial towns of Hinjewadi, Chakan, and Shirur in Pune district.

To ensure water management, Ajit Pawar made the PMC take up projects to check water loss due to leakages and theft. The ongoing construction of a tunnel from the dam to carry water to rural areas was initiated by him through the state government. He also got the Pune civic body to recycle the wastewater for agricultural purposes outside the city limits. To meet the growing demand for water in Pune, Ajit Pawar recently said that efforts were on to draw water from Mulshi Dam.

Ajit Pawar also advocated for the formation of at least two more municipal corporations in Pune district—Chakan and Uruli Kanchan—for efficient delivery of civic services to citizens.

“Ajit Pawar’s death has come as a shock. It feels like we have lost a guardian who always made decisions in the interest of the state. I worked with him closely for many years. He was the one with whom I was able to take up issues for the welfare of the city,” said NCP(SP) leader Vandana Chavan, former mayor during the Congress rule.