Ajit Pawar’s Somber Warning: Hinjewadi IT Park on the Verge of Relocation, Infrastructure Lapses Under Fire
Ajit Pawar’s assertion that Pune’s Hinjewadi IT Park may relocate to Bengaluru or Hyderabad has triggered political fallout and urgent calls for state action. A detailed account of why infrastructure matters for investment retention.
NewsSutra
In a moment that jolted Maharashtra’s political and industrial circles, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar issued a public warning that Pune’s massive Hinjewadi IT Park—home to over 800 tech companies—may soon shift to Bengaluru or Hyderabad. His statement, made during an inspection on July 26, 2025, triggered a media frenzy and raised red flags among policymakers and investors alike.
The remark wasn’t just a routine observation. It was a dire caution against administrative inaction and poor infrastructure that, if unaddressed, could lead to a massive investment flight from Maharashtra.
The Incident That Sparked the Firestorm
The controversy unfolded during a dawn visit by Ajit Pawar to the Pimpri-Chinchwad region, a critical suburban zone near Pune. Confronting local sarpanch Ganesh Jambhulkar, Pawar stated that companies from Hinjewadi IT Park are now actively considering relocating to Bengaluru or Hyderabad, citing unbearable civic issues like waterlogging, narrow roads, and encroachments.
“We are ruined. The entire IT Park is moving out… to Bengaluru and Hyderabad,” Pawar said, in a video clip that went viral online.
His tone reflected deep frustration with local bodies that have failed to deliver on infrastructure promises in one of Maharashtra’s most economically vital zones.
Why Hinjewadi IT Park Matters
The Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, commonly known as Hinjewadi IT Park, spans more than 2,800 acres and is managed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). It is the backbone of Pune’s IT landscape and contributes substantially to the state's GDP and export figures.
Companies like Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant, and Tech Mahindra operate major campuses here. If they shift base, the economic ripple effect could impact employment, urban development, and state revenue in significant ways.
The Real Issues on the Ground
1. Traffic Congestion
The daily commute to Hinjewadi is a nightmare. Roads designed for far fewer vehicles now see bumper-to-bumper traffic during peak hours. Plans for road widening to 36 metres are being resisted by locals due to the potential displacement of over 100 homes and the destruction of community infrastructure.
2. Waterlogging and Poor Drainage
Seasonal flooding continues to be a problem. Several drains are blocked due to unchecked encroachments. Despite repeated promises, de-silting and stormwater management have seen little success. Over 470 illegal structures have been demolished so far, but officials admit much more needs to be done.
3. Institutional Deadlock
The biggest challenge is coordination. Agencies like PMC, PMRDA, PWD, and MIDC operate in silos, creating gaps in project execution. Ajit Pawar highlighted this fragmentation, blaming it for incomplete infrastructure that now threatens to drive businesses out.
Political Fallout and Urgent Government Response
Opposition Reacts
The opposition, particularly the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), called Pawar’s statement an indictment of his own government. Supriya Sule, MP from Baramati, demanded urgent review meetings and accountability from civic bodies. She expressed concern over the lack of proactive planning, asking why things were allowed to deteriorate to this point.
“This isn’t just a Pune issue; this affects the economic integrity of Maharashtra,” Sule said, referencing the danger of investment diversion to other states.
State Government Scrambles
In response, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of a Single-Point Authority to tackle Hinjewadi’s infrastructure crisis. The agency, led by the Pune Divisional Commissioner, will coordinate across departments to ensure streamlined execution of pending projects.
You can read more about the state’s response in the Times of India report here.
Is Investment Already Moving?
While no major company has officially announced relocation, whispers within the IT industry suggest growing discomfort. Several mid-sized firms are reported to have shifted parts of their operations to Hyderabad and Bengaluru, where infrastructure reliability and regulatory response are reportedly better.
Hyderabad’s IT corridor in Gachibowli and Bengaluru’s Whitefield and Electronic City have long been contenders to Pune’s tech dominance. With Maharashtra showing signs of infrastructural fatigue, the scales could tip rapidly.
Media, Industry and Public Response
Pawar’s outburst has dominated headlines across national and regional media. Industry bodies like NASSCOM and CREDAI Pune Metro have cautiously echoed his concerns, urging the state to act before it's too late.
Meanwhile, public response has been mixed. Many residents of Wakad, Hinjewadi, and Baner agree with the criticism but feel caught between poor governance and top-down administrative decisions that may ignore local voices.
Read the full citizen and industry reaction in this Indian Express article.
What’s Being Done?
According to official statements, the following steps are now being taken:
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Road Widening Projects: Critical stretches are being prioritized for expansion, despite resistance from local groups.
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Drainage Clearance: PMRDA and MIDC have initiated joint projects to address flooding ahead of the next monsoon season.
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Metro Connectivity Boost: Pune Metro’s expansion toward Hinjewadi is being fast-tracked with new timelines.
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Weekly Reviews: Pawar and Fadnavis have committed to weekly progress evaluations with a dedicated action dashboard.
Why This Story Has National Significance
The Hinjewadi episode is not an isolated story. It reflects a growing tension in Indian cities: rapid industrial growth outpacing civic planning. As India competes to become a global tech hub, infrastructure readiness will increasingly become a deciding factor for where businesses choose to set up base.
If Maharashtra, one of India’s most industrialized states, can’t hold on to its IT crown, it could signal a deeper policy failure. On the other hand, the current spotlight might finally bring overdue reform.
Conclusion
Ajit Pawar’s dramatic remarks about the possible relocation of Hinjewadi’s IT Park were not just political theatre—they were a wake-up call. Maharashtra, long celebrated as an economic powerhouse, now faces a challenge that goes beyond Pune: retain investment or risk being overtaken by more agile, infrastructure-driven cities.
The coming weeks will reveal whether the government’s new urgency is matched by real action. For now, the future of Hinjewadi—and Maharashtra’s industrial reputation—hangs in the balance.
