What ails Hinjewadi: Growth and governance challenges in Pune’s IT hub  

However, despite its economic significance, Hinjewadi grapples with severe infrastructure and governance challenges that threaten its sustainability and growth.

Hinjewadi’s rapid transformation from a rural village to a global IT hub has outpaced its infrastructure, leading to a cascade of civic issues. Three key factors contribute to these challenges:

Fragmented governance and regulatory conflicts

Hinjewadi operates under a patchwork of authorities, including the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), and local gram panchayats. This fragmented governance leads to conflicting regulations, particularly around infrastructure development. For instance, road width guidelines vary significantly: PCMC allows up to 60 metres, MIDC permits 20 metres, and village panchayats restrict widths to 8 metres. Such discrepancies have sparked local resistance, with villagers recently protesting road-widening initiatives, fearing loss of land and livelihood.

Mritunjay Singh.

Traffic congestion and commuter overload

Hinjewadi sees an estimated 2,40,000 to 5,00,000 daily commuters, with 20-30 per cent using four-wheelers, translating to 60,000-1,50,000 cars clogging narrow roads during peak hours (8 am-12 pm and 5.30 pm-8 pm). The situation is exacerbated by ongoing metro construction, poor road conditions, and inadequate public transport. Key choke points like Shivaji Chowk and Lakshmi Chowk are notorious for hour-long delays. The rise of work-from-home policies has not alleviated the issue, as companies continue to hire, increasing commuter numbers.

Lack of a unified development authority

The absence of a nodal agency to coordinate development has left Hinjewadi’s infrastructure lagging behind its economic growth. While the Hinjawadi Industries Association (HIA) once collaborated with government bodies to create a development blueprint, recent years have seen stalled progress due to poor coordination. This has led to deteriorating roads, unreliable utilities, and unplanned urban sprawl, with 37 IT companies reportedly relocating over the past decade due to infrastructure woes.

Additional pain points

Inadequate power infrastructure: Hinjewadi relies on two 220 kV power lines (Pirangut to Phase 1 and Infosys to Pegasus substation). However, the area requires at least three active 220 kV lines and a 400 kV substation, along with a 700-800 MW backup power generation facility to ensure reliability. Frequent outages disrupt operations and daily life.

Water supply shortages: The Mulshi Dam supplies water to Hinjewadi, but many housing societies depend on private tankers and borewells due to inconsistent supply. The 2021 proposal to allocate 5-7 TMC of water from Mulshi Dam for Pune’s western areas, including Hinjewadi, awaits state approval, with no significant progress since the committee’s 2023 report.

Urban-rural disparity: The juxtaposition of gleaming IT campuses and under-resourced villages like Maan and Marunji highlights a lack of inclusive development. Residents lament being side-lined as the IT boom transforms their region, with one villager poignantly noting, “I was doing fine, and then came these IT parks, and I have become lost.”

Proposed solutions for a sustainable future

Hinjewadi requires a holistic, inclusive approach to development, balancing the needs of its IT workforce, local residents, and infrastructure demands. Suggested solutions offer a path forward:

Establish a Hinjewadi city council: Creating a unified Hinjewadi city council, recognised by the Maharashtra government, could streamline governance. Represented by village leaders, industry stakeholders, and chaired by the guardian minister or local MP, this council would act as a nodal agency with authority to coordinate development across MIDC, PMRDA, PMC, PCMC, and gram panchayats. A “single-window planning authority” has been proposed by the state to address fragmented governance, and this council could operationalise it, ensuring consistent regulations and faster project execution.

Develop a dedicated ring road and circular metro line: A circular ring road and/ or metro line within Hinjewadi, connecting key areas like Marunji, Maan, and all phases of the IT park, would reduce internal congestion. The proposed 110-metre-wide ring road linking Pimpri Chinchwad to major highways and the ongoing Pune Metro Line 3 (Shivajinagar to Hinjewadi, expected completion by December 2025) are steps in the right direction. However, last-mile connectivity remains critical. Dedicated shuttle services and feeder networks must complement the metro to ensure seamless access.

Enhance road infrastructure and entry points: Widening roads to a uniform width across the IT park, as proposed by MIDC (e.g., the 5.75 km Baner-Hinjewadi road and a four-lane flyover at Lakshmi Chowk), would alleviate traffic bottlenecks. Developing multiple entry points from the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway, Marunji, Chande, and Nande would distribute commuter inflow. A large-scale parking facility near metro stations could encourage carpooling and metro use, reducing the 60,000-1,50,000 cars flooding the area daily.

Introduce double-decker buses: Consolidating corporate bus services under PMC/PCMC management could optimise public transport. Double-decker buses, capable of carrying more passengers in the same road space, could reduce the reliance on private vehicles. If 50 per cent of corporate bus capacity is shifted to public double-decker services, it could significantly ease road congestion.

Secure alternative water sources: Beyond the Mulshi Dam, identifying an additional water source is critical to address shortages. The state must expedite the 2021 Mulshi Dam water allocation proposal, which requires pipeline and storage infrastructure to serve Hinjewadi and the surrounding areas. Until then, incentives for rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling in housing societies could reduce reliance on tankers.

Promote inclusive development: The IT industry must partner with local villages to foster equitable growth. Initiatives like Infosys’s school in Maan village demonstrate the potential for corporate-social collaboration. A ‘total transformation’ program, led by industry giants, could modernise villages with better schools, healthcare, and utilities while preserving their cultural identity. Town planning schemes, like the Mahalunge-Maan Town Planning Scheme (Rs 616.90 crore, covering 250.26 hectares), should prioritise local integration to prevent marginalisation.

The above is essential to sustain Hinjewadi’s role as Maharashtra’s IT engine. The frustration of residents and businesses is palpable, with reports of 37 companies leaving Hinjewadi over the past decade due to infrastructure failures. As Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar warned in July 2025, “We are ruined” if the IT park continues to lose companies to Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Swift, coordinated action is needed to prevent further economic leakage and ensure Hinjewadi remains a beacon of opportunity, not a cautionary tale of civic neglect.

Mrityunjay Singh is a former head of Infosys Pune and a former member of Hinjawadi Industries Association.

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