The Lost Symphony: When Hinjawadi's Growth Outpaced Its Governance
Written by Anay Ajit Kulkarni
Beyond The Blueprint is the Blog Series by Pune International Centre (PIC) under Centre for Cooperative Federalism and Multilevel Governance. It explores cities beyond policy, using data, field insights and analysis, bringing governance closer to people.
This month’s blog covers the broader theme of Responsible Governance: Through State and Non-State Actors. The blog explores how Hinjawadi IT Park, despite being a major tech hub, struggles with waterlogging, traffic, and poor urban planning due to fragmented governance. It highlights the urgent need for a unified civic authority. Only cohesive governance can unlock its full potential.
Over the last two decades, Pune has successfully established itself as one of the major Information Technology (IT) hubs, alongside Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Among the multiple IT parks across Pune, Hinjawadi IT Park (also known as Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park) can be considered the heart of the city.
Hinjawadi IT Park, spread across approximately 2,800 acres, evolved from a rural, agriculture-oriented area into an urban, high-construction space. The entire Hinjawadi area is divided into a Gram Panchayat and phases 1, 2, and 3. Hinjawadi brings immense value to the table in terms of revenue and employment and is a major source of FDI for both the state and the country. However, while the industrial melody continues, the harmony breaks. What was once envisioned as a symphony is now a conflict between growth, responsibility, and sustainability.
Hinjawadi successfully attracted the service industry to the area, but the exponential increase in population has raised the responsibility for maintaining their basic living standard. The recent waterlogging during the rains has highlighted the urgent need to improve basic amenities and strengthen disaster management systems. Rapid urbanisation and unchecked construction have obstructed the natural flow of water, especially during the monsoon. The current situation reveals that the fundamental principles of governance, city planning, and urban development have been overlooked during the rapid growth and expansion of one of India’s most developed and advanced IT parks.
The Forum for IT Employees (FITE), has confirmed that the unchecked construction activities have blocked or diverted natural water streams (nullahs). But the other side of the story is also worth understanding. Environmental degradation and climate change are the major causes of incessant rains and flash floods in the area. As a result, despite the well-planned drainage system, waterlogging continues to haunt the citizens. The ongoing metro construction also adds to the traffic congestion. Therefore, it would be wise to accept that although nature is beyond human control, we need to be prepared for the consequences. The roads are flooding with water, and traffic shows that we had planned for the spotlight but not for the blockage.
Who is equipped with adequate resources and can establish a proper service delivery system in Hinjawadi ?
Unfortunately, Hinjawadi is a Gram Panchayat area, and the rest of the phases 1, 2, and 3 are under the administration of PMRDA and MIDC. Thus, there is no municipal corporation present which can deliver the urban services collectively for the entire area. Without a well-equipped Municipal corporation with adequate funds and resources, and a mandate to provide a proper stormwater drainage system, the issue will persist. If setting up a Municipal Corporation isn't feasible, there should at least be a single authority overseeing all the stakeholders involved.
Life in Hinjawadi has become increasingly difficult due to poor planning. People working in Phases 2 and 3 face major issues, especially during heavy rains, with flooded roads and unsafe conditions posing a certain risk to human life. But the situation is even worse for residents, who deal with these problems every day without any clear way to get help. There is a lack of a grievance redressal authority in the area, further exacerbating the situation. What should have been a positive development is now causing daily struggles for the very people who live and work there.
The current setup in Hinjawadi IT Park, with multiple authorities (the Gram Panchayat, MIDC, and PMRDA), has created an ambiguous and fragmented system that struggles to deliver even basic civic services. Issues such as traffic jams, waterlogging, and unplanned growth continue to surface, and no single agency takes full responsibility. This lack of coordination among multiple agencies is affecting both daily life and long-term development.
Sometimes, implication can drive decisive actions. In light of the growing misgovernance and recurring civic issues in Hinjawadi, there is a systematic need for reform. The most viable solution lies in a unified administrative body, one that can take charge, plan for the future, and work closely with all stakeholders. Transitioning to a municipal corporation model of participatory democracy could resolve this issue. With this transitioned status, Hinjawadi' s governance structure would be significantly upgraded, replacing the Gram Panchayat with a full-fledged urban civic body empowered with planning authority. MIDC would benefit from an integrated urban infrastructure aligned with its industrial operations. PMRDA would gain an effective on-ground partner to implement its regional plans. STPI would be supported with a comprehensive urban ecosystem. The Hinjawadi Industries Association (HIA) would attain institutional support, grievance redressal, and public-private partnerships. These shifts would foster cohesive governance and a sustainable service-oriented urban environment for all stakeholders involved. Only then will Hinjawadi IT park live up to its full potential.
Ultimately, it’s the symphony of all stakeholders working in harmony that drives meaningful progress. Governance has two facets: authority and responsibility, and meaningful decentralisation is key to bridging them. It is an invaluable tool that empowers the local voices and communities to influence decision-making and ensure a transparent and responsive government. Hinjawadi can become the innovative capital it is envisioned to be with collaborative planning and unified administration.
Beyond The Blueprint is an initiative of the Pune International Centre (PIC) under the Centre for Cooperative Federalism and Multilevel Governance. PIC is an independent and multidimensional policy think tank based in Pune. PIC does not solicit any payments or subscriptions for this blog series.
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