After waterlogging in IT hub Hinjewadi, Maharashtra CM Fadnavis to hold urgent meeting on Thursday with officials, stakeholders

Jagtap said the issue of merger of Hinjewadi with PCMC will also discussed. “Though it is not a part of tomorrow’s agenda, I am going to raise the issue of merger of Hinjewadi area with PCMC, which had sent the proposal for merger at least seven years back. It is pending with the state government,” he said.

IT professionals and residents from Hinjewadi have also started an online campaign seeking merger of the IT hub with PCMC.

Among others, the meeting will be attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, minister of state (urban development department), PMC and PCMC commissioners, PMRDA commissioner, police commissioners of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune District Collector and officials of the NHAI, MahaMetro and MIDC.

“The CM has taken cognisance of the problems faced by the citizens by urgently convening the meeting. The outcome of the meeting will certainly bring a big relief to citizens, IT professionals and motorists using different roads in Hinjewadi area,” Jagtap said.

He said thousands of people have been affected by the daily traffic jams in Hinjewadi area. “It is costing them heavily in terms time, money and fuel. Also, it is a big mental harassment for them. It’s time we focus our attention on roads, ring road, flyovers, public transport and parking in this area,” he said.

Jagtap, who represents Chinchwad Assembly constituency which is close to Hinjewadi area, lamented that Hinjewadi traffic issue has remained a neglected area so far.

Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge said the state government has stepped forward to resolve the long-pending traffic and civic issues affecting Hinjewadi area. “The state government has taken a positive step by urgently convening a meeting to resolve the issues affecting the world famous IT park of Hinjewadi,” he said.

Landge said in the very first rain of the season, Hinjewadi IT hub turned into a “water park”. “Those working in the hub are facing a nightmare vis-a-vis daily traffic jams, power outages and lack of proper basic amenities. IT professionals and residents have also undertaken a signature campaign to get their grievances redressed. As per my information, 30,000 IT professionals have backed this campaign,” he said.

Demanding an action plan, Landge said there was lack of coordination between different public authorities who are supposed to take care of the needs of Hinjewadi area. “There is no effective coordination between PMRDA, MIDC, Zilla Parishad and NHAI. Though it is a world famous IT hub, because of lack of proper amenities, it is getting defamed.”

Baramati MP Supriya Sule has also taken up the problems of Hinjewadi with the CM. She has written a letter to the CM urging him to either form a Special City Development Authority or an Industrial Urban Administrative Authority. Sule said Hinjewadi and nearby areas were facing issues of traffic jams, waterlogging and frequent power failures. “But the different public authorities have been found wanting. The state government should take urgent steps to resolve the problems faced by people in Hinjewadi area,” she said in the letter.

On Monday, the Hinjewadi area witnessed a major power outage. For over 24 hours, IT companies and housing societies were without power.