Pune: Hinjawadi IT Hub Faces Severe Pothole Problems Resulting in Traffic Jams and Infrastructure Issues
Pune, 12th August 2024: The Information Technology Hub of Hinjawadi is struggling with a severe pothole crisis, exacerbated by this year’s monsoon season. Roads in the area are heavily damaged, leading to significant traffic jams that affect daily commuters. Government agencies have implemented only temporary repairs, which have failed to resolve the underlying issues.
The Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjawadi, home to around 200 IT companies employing over 300,000 individuals, has been notably impacted. The infrastructure and traffic problems have become major concerns, with drivers enduring traffic jams lasting up to an hour and a half each day. The road conditions have become so poor that traveling 3 kilometers within the park now takes over 30 minutes. The lack of proper footpaths makes walking impractical, and cycling is also unfeasible.
IT professionals have frequently expressed frustration with the deteriorating roads. Lt Col (Retd) Yogesh Joshi, Secretary of the Hinjawadi Industries Association, criticized the temporary fixes being applied, noting that the roads deteriorate within days. Joshi highlighted that if repairs had been completed before the monsoon, the current issues might have been mitigated.
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has also noted that ongoing metro line construction from Hinjawadi to Shivajinagar has exacerbated road conditions. MIDC has requested the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to address the urgent need for road repairs. The PMRDA, responsible for road maintenance during metro construction, has been urged to act promptly to restore road quality and alleviate public dissatisfaction.
