The Maharashtra government has formed a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi to address critical infrastructure issues in Pune's Chakan industrial belt. According to a Government Resolution issued on August 14 by the Planning Department, the committee will handle road repairs, traffic congestion, and management issues in the rapidly expanding industrial area. The Pimpri-Chinchwad police commissioner has been appointed as co-chair of the committee, which includes representatives from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Public Works Department, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Pune Municipal Corporation, as well as industry bodies. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged the problems as "very genuine" and promised relief, while Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has directed 14 government departments to work under the committee and implement an immediate action plan. The government has set a 10-month deadline from the GR date for completing planning, approvals, coordination and implementation processes. As per the latest government resolution, Chakan's rapid industrial and commercial growth, increasing population and movement of heavy vehicles have put considerable pressure on the area's road and transport infrastructure. Poor roads, inadequate capacity, congestion and a lack of coordination among government agencies have further affected traffic management.
The government's swift action comes after at least 20 companies recently announced plans to relocate their factories to Khandala in Pune district due to severe traffic congestion and inadequate infrastructure. As reported by Upstox News Desk, Shantanu Kulkarni, an industry representative and member of the Chakan Industrial Association, revealed that 40 companies had initially responded to the proposal to shift operations, with 20 units now shortlisted for the first phase. The companies include ancillary units making press components, machine components, plastic bags and corrugated boxes. 35 companies have submitted online applications to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) seeking plots in Khandala, with 20 showing firm intent to relocate. Kulkarni's firm Matrix Tools, which employs more than 100 workers, cited that commuting had become a major problem with workers losing 4 hours a day in traffic. The crisis has put nearly ₹1,000 crore in business and approximately 4,000 jobs at risk. According to latest reports, as many as 5,000 direct and indirect jobs would be lost if companies in Chakan industrial area shift their operations as announced, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray citing "infrastructural mess, corruption, administrative mess and intra-and-inter-department rivalries" as reasons behind industries moving out.
The committee has been tasked with treating roads across Chakan as a single integrated planning unit and preparing a comprehensive plan covering major and internal roads, service roads, junctions, drainage, streetlights, traffic signals, parking, road safety and movement of heavy vehicles. The panel will identify congestion hotspots and oversee immediate repairs of potholes and damaged roads, with projects identified as urgent being taken up on a fast-track basis to avoid unnecessary administrative delays. The MIDC will make land available for a solid waste management project, a police station, a fire station and an electrical substation. Samant announced that portions of the previously approved 27-km concrete road project had already been completed and approval would be given on priority for another 17 to 18 km of road works based on requirements identified by industry associations and local residents. The Industry Grievance Redressal Cell will operate from the Pune district collector's office to address delayed approvals, permissions and services faced by new industries and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) coming up in Chakan and other parts of Pune district. The cell will consider cases that have already been submitted to the relevant government authority but remain unresolved beyond the prescribed period or have been unnecessarily delayed.
Mahatransco, the state-owned electricity transmission company, has planned to install a new transformer by August 31 to address electricity-related issues. The MIDC will provide land for a new electrical substation. Shinde expressed confidence that the proposed Dedicated Freight Corridor connecting Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ranjangaon and Chakan MIDC, along with the planned highway connecting Uran, Karjat, Rajgurunagar, Shirur and Pune, would boost industrial development and ease traffic congestion. The development plan for Chakan city will also be approved at the earliest. The government has established an Industry Grievance Redressal Cell at the Pune District Collectorate to address pending approvals and permissions required by industries. As per latest reports, Industries Minister Uday Samant announced that authorities have initiated immediate work to repair potholes, strengthen road shoulders, clear garbage and streamline parking management across the industrial belt.
The Opposition has intensified pressure on the government over the infrastructure crisis, with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar last week urging the Maharashtra government to take urgent steps to retain industries and protect jobs. He said the decision by 20 companies employing more than 2,000 workers to relocate was a "serious matter" and suggested a special single-window mechanism to ensure timely resolution of their problems. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray claimed that "infrastructural mess, corruption, administrative mess and intra-and-inter-department rivalries" are among the reasons behind industries moving out. The crisis has prompted companies to consider relocating to other industrial hubs, with the Opposition targeting the government over broader industrial challenges, including data showing that 36,211 private companies in Maharashtra shut down over the past five years. The government has set up a high-level committee under the chairmanship of the district collector to ensure coordinated action and address the mounting concerns of both industries and political stakeholders.
