A short burst of heavy rainfall turned Pune’s Hinjewadi IT Park into a flooded zone on Saturday, once again spotlighting the chronic infrastructure challenges that plague Maharashtra’s flagship technology corridor. Widely regarded as the economic engine of Pune’s digital economy, the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park was left waterlogged, paralysing commutes and daily routines for thousands of professionals.
While the downpour lasted barely an hour, the impact on the tech hub’s daily operations was disproportionate. Roads leading to major office campuses and residential complexes were submerged, with vehicles stranded and pedestrians wading through ankle-deep water. This sudden deluge disrupted access routes to nearly 400 IT and ITeS firms located within the park, highlighting the urgent need for robust drainage and urban water management systems in one of India’s fastest-growing economic zones.
The Forum of IT Employees (FITE), a prominent body representing tech workers, raised concerns about persistent neglect. According to representatives, this is not the first time Hinjewadi has suffered during rains. Despite repeated pleas to improve road conditions and overhaul drainage systems, authorities have failed to act decisively. “The park is central to Pune’s economy, yet basic civic amenities are in disrepair. This is not just an inconvenience—it is a systemic failure,” a FITE spokesperson said.
The governance of the area remains divided among multiple agencies including the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), and the Gram Panchayat. This fragmented administrative structure has often been cited as the root cause behind the slow pace of infrastructure upgrades. As heavy monsoons become increasingly common due to climate change, the inability to coordinate effectively across agencies is proving to be a serious liability.
Political leaders, too, voiced concerns. A Member of Parliament from the region flagged the issue on social media, questioning whether a drainage system even exists in key parts of the IT Park. Citing water accumulation near schools and office zones, the MP called for immediate action by MIDC and other responsible agencies to undertake both emergency clean-up and long-term drainage planning. “This level of neglect in an area that contributes heavily to the state’s economy is unjustifiable,” the MP wrote.
Urban experts argue that the situation in Hinjewadi reflects a broader pattern seen across India’s new economic corridors, where real estate and commercial development outpaces basic civic planning. Without climate-resilient infrastructure and clear administrative accountability, cities risk losing the productivity gains such parks are designed to deliver.
For now, the flooding at Hinjewadi has not only created logistical nightmares but also raised serious questions about the sustainability of Pune’s urban growth model. As the monsoon deepens, stakeholders across the board are calling for immediate and long-term solutions to ensure the city’s innovation ecosystem does not get drowned by poor planning.
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