Pune: CM’s Principal Secretary Orders PMRDA, MIDC to Act Swiftly on Hinjawadi Civic Mess
Pune News, July 03, 2025: Acting on a report submitted by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) commissioner to the Chief Minister’s Office, Principal Secretary to the CM Devendra Fadnavis, Ashwini Bhide, has directed multiple government agencies to take urgent steps to address the worsening civic crisis in Pune’s IT hub—Hinjawadi.
As per a report published by the Times of India, Bhide chaired a high-level review meeting on Wednesday with key officials from the PMRDA, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), and other relevant departments. The meeting was prompted by a surge in citizen complaints following recurring urban flooding and public infrastructure breakdowns in Hinjawadi.
Detailed Hydrologic Study and Drainage Plan Ordered
Bhide directed PMRDA and MIDC to immediately conduct a detailed hydrologic study and assess the feasibility of a storm water drainage network for the region, especially across Phases I, II, and III of Hinjawadi.
PMRDA chief engineer Rinaj Pathan informed TOI that temporary drainage channels and continuous pothole repairs will be carried out. In parallel, the PWD and MIDC have been asked to initiate land acquisition for major roads and flyovers.
Solid Waste Facility and Land Transfer Plan
The long-pending solid waste management issue in the area is also being addressed. MIDC will build a 10-tonne-per-day waste processing unit, and PMRDA has been assigned to identify and transfer land to the Maan gram panchayat to house this facility.
Officials have also been instructed to refer to PCMC’s guidelines for natural drains (nullahs) and prepare a joint inter-agency report on drainage solutions.
Crackdown on Illegal Stream Diversions
The PMRDA had previously identified 13 illegal diversions of natural water streams and drains by builders, companies, and individuals. These unauthorized alterations, according to PMRDA commissioner Yogesh Mhase, have been the root cause of severe waterlogging, especially near the Metro corridor and in all three phases of Hinjawadi.
Mhase told TOI that FIRs will be filed against the violators within the next 10 days, following a recent site inspection.
Emergency Operations Underway
In response to the civic breakdown, joint operations by the PMRDA, MIDC, and PCMC began last week. Measures include:
- Drain cleaning
- Pothole repairs
- Clearing unauthorized stalls
- Road repairs around IT offices and Metro stations
However, continuous heavy rainfall has hindered the completion of many of these works, Mhase noted.
Political Pressure Mounts
The civic issues have led to growing public outrage and political pressure. Baramati MP Supriya Sule recently wrote to the CMO seeking immediate action, and several MPs and MLAs have held meetings and conducted reviews to ensure faster resolution.
The developments, as reported by the Times of India, highlight the need for coordinated planning and long-term infrastructure solutions in Pune’s rapidly growing tech corridor.
