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Miles and miles of roads without a single pothole. A gigantic fountain that actually works and does not spill water on the passersby. Law...

Miles and miles of roads without a single pothole. A gigantic fountain that actually works and does not spill water on the passersby. Lawns manicured to perfection. A concrete structure that far from monstrous is a pleasure to behold. And no garbage visible to the eye. You almost feel you are in paradise. Actually, it8217;s just the National Insurance Academy NIA at Balewadi.

You enter the impressive premises to an almost pin-drop silence, broken only by the chirping of birds, the crackling of leaves or the roar of a truck hurtling down the Mumbai-Pune highway. Ahead, the 32 acres of the NIA stretch before your eyes, its freshly-tarred roads lined with lamp posts, various levels of green lawns and blocks of offices and residences.

Jointly sponsored by the Life Insurance Corporation of India and the General Insurance Corporation of India, the NIA was established in 1980-81, in Mumbai, primarily as a training institution for senior executives of the insurance industry, the only one of its kind in Asia. However, over the years, its activities proliferated to include research, trainers8217; training, consultancy and publications.

8220;With the growth of the academy8217;s activities, there was an acute need for more space. In Mumbai, it functioned from a small office and for every seminar, space had to be booked in hotels. When the discussions were going on, someone zeroed in on Pune. We got these 32 acres almost for a song, since this area was in total wilderness then,8221; elaborates Dr P S Palande, director, NIA, and former municipal commissioner of Pune.

Awarding the task of construction to renowned architects Kanvinde and Rai from Delhi, it took about two years for the structures to come up and begin functioning. With a built-up area of 1,61,000 sq ft, the academy today is an example of architectural excellence.

All the blocks are connected to each other either through passages or little bridges. 8220;You cross the bridge from the administration building and go to the faculty, from where a corridor leads to the teaching area, which in turn is connected to the computer centre. All this put together ensures that you get lots of exercise everyday,8221; smiles Palande. Another noteworthy feature is that every block has a distinctly different staircase. The administration building has a spiral staircase while there is a folded one in the library and a dog ledge8217; variety in the residential area.

The most awesome area is probably the library, with its two-storey spacious interiors and four skylights with fibreglass domes, that have sunlight streaming through them. The concept is carried forward to the computer room, which is part of the library and is likewise bathed in natural light. 8220;This is a conscious attempt to reduce one8217;s dependence on artificial light,8221; explains S N Rane, civil engineer.

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With residential facilities for 35 families, their own dish antenna connection, multi-purpose hall, cafeteria and self-contained units for executives who come for training and are required to stay on the premises, the NIA is a little world by itself. There is even a post office, a bank, a dispensary and a police chowkey just outside the gates. 8220;We also have a bus service to town and three auto-rickshaws to ferry children of employees living in the premises to different schools in the city, which is provided free of charge,8221; adds Palande.

With 2,200 participants availing of the academy8217;s various training programmes that emphasise research and qualitative teaching every year, there are now plans for expansion, with a full-fledged computer centre on top priority. But that is not likely to change things much. Certainly not the first impression of quietness and solitude that one experiences here, despite the fact that at any given time, there are at least 200 to 250 people on the premises engaged in work or participating in its programmes. One place that is quite definitely insured against crowds and noise pollution.

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Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More