Collaboration is key to find viable solutions for Hinjewadi’s woes

Like any other Metro city, traffic management in Hinjewadi poses the greatest challenge. Traversing a sea of traffic proves to be a Herculean task for daily commuters, especially during peak hours. Narrow roads, uneven surfaces, and the ongoing Metro construction have added to the woes. The Wakad flyover, a crucial connector, remains a choke point. Alternate routes are in the pipeline, but progress on forefront seems to be moving at a snail’s pace. For a region that prides itself on speed and scalability, such bottlenecks can become more than just inconveniences—they risk becoming deterrents.

A lack of effective systems coupled with nature’s havoc can have a devastating effect on a weak civic infrastructure. This year heavy rains in July led to severe waterlogging in parts of Hinjewadi, disrupting traffic and submerging vehicles. A clear case that indicates poor town planning and slack infrastructural developments. Inefficient drainage systems, aggravated by encroachments and blocked natural water channels, disrupted the working of even the most organised campuses.

Power supply, another fundamental necessity you would imagine for an IT hub, has also shown signs of strain. Unreliable electricity supply affects IT firms and manufacturing units alike, leading to productivity losses. In July 2025, Phase 2 & 3 suffered power outages impacting industrial activity. Such disruptions contribute to low productivity and reduced investor confidence.

Public transport is another area that needs looking into. Lack of an efficient transport system and absence of reliable last-mile connectivity forces dependence on personal vehicles. Moreover, these issues further discourage skilled workers from making the move to Pune, owing to the unseen costs such as this one.

Apart from the above, waste management and sanitation, too, deserve renewed focus. Keeping in mind the health of the citizens it is essential to maintain cleanliness and dignity in the shared public spaces.

Perhaps a systemic issue contributes greatly to all these challenges. The systemic issue of overlapping jurisdictions and divided governance. Hinjewadi falls under the influence of multiple administrative bodies, including PMRDA, MIDC, and the local Gram Panchayat. Each has a defined role, but lack of a unified civic vision becomes a hindrance in quick and satisfactory resolution of concerns. The plan to merge Hinjewadi with the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, could potentially streamline administration, but it seems to be taking ages to materialize.

But our intent here is not to criticise, it is to collaborate and come to viable and sustainable solutions. It’s not as though the State government has been oblivious to the demands or challenges of the region. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar have been at the forefront of the issue and have shown personal interest in resolving them. The recent visits of Ajit Pawar is proof of that, as are his strong statements on what all we stand to lose—both as a city and an industry if the issues are not addressed proactively.

All the above point to one undeniable conclusion—it’s time to act resolutely and responsibly. What Hinjewadi needs is a coordinated, time-bound roadmap that addresses its unique urban challenges and at the same time safeguards its economic promise. This could well be the gamechanger.

As industry representatives, we too need to recognise the importance of being equal partners towards this goal. Indeed we are probably the greatest beneficiaries of a potential turnaround, given that we have chosen this area to set up our industries and invest our resources. We own intangible equity in the progress of Hinjewadi and need to be willing to meet the initiative of the government and the cooperation of the citizens midway. I am sure the industries and companies here are ready to do whatever it takes for a collaborative effort to bring Hinjewadi out of the abyss everyone predicts its headed to and infuse it with the vigour an IT hub demands. It’s time to build. Together.

(Satish Mehta is Founder and CEO Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited)

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