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Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
IT employees flag rising two-wheeler accidents caused by pathetic road conditions at Bhumkar Chowk
1 2 Pune: A large number of IT employees working in Hinjewadi have complained about repeated accidents involving two-wheeler riders at Bhumkar Chowk in Wakad due to poor road conditions. According to the Forum for IT Employees (FITE) Maharashtra, the junction, which connects Pimpri Chinchwad with Hinjewadi IT Park, experiences heavy daily traffic and a high number of mishaps in recent times. While driving his two-wheeler to office last week on this route, IT employee Rhitom T said he struggled to control the bike. "Thankfully, I was driving at less than 20 kmph, so I did not fall. But the condition of the road is so pathetic that I could barely retain my balance. Since then, I have decided not to take my bike to work till the road is repaired," he said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Unni Balachandran, another IT employee, said the poor road condition also contributes to regular traffic jams. "I travel in a car. But I know the chowk is a nightmare for two-wheeler riders. Already, the roads are too narrow for the traffic they carry. Now, even the surface is destroyed. Authorities must act," he said. Pavanjit Mane, president of FITE, told TOI, "I have received multiple complaints from IT employees about the condition of the road. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Living comfortably: 60 m² prefabricated house for the elderly (See more) Prefabricated Homes View Deals Undo When I went to check it myself two days ago, a two-wheeler shockingly skidded right in front of us. The rider and his mother both fell and suffered injuries, after which they were taken to a nearby hospital for first aid. The road surface has eroded and is uneven, with loose gravel and potholes everywhere. Add rain to this mixture and the result is disastrous." Mane added, "FITE is urging all employees to be extremely cautious while using the stretch. We also request authorities to immediately inspect the condition of roads at Bhumkar Chowk and take urgent steps to make them safe for daily commuters. This is not just an inconvenience. It's turning into a serious safety hazard." When contacted by TOI, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) city engineer Makarand Nikam said he was busy with a training session and could not comment. PCMC joint city engineer Bapu Gaikwad did not respond to calls or messages till the time of going to print. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Hinjewadi IT meet sparks row over exclusion of local stakeholders
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis PUNE: The state Urban Development Department's meeting scheduled for Thursday (July 10)in Mumbai to address long-pending civic and infrastructure issues in Hinjewadi has drawn sharp criticism for excluding key local stakeholders. Chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis , the meeting has invited local MLAs Shankar Jagtap and Mahesh Landge, along with officials from the district administration. However, prominent elected representatives and organisations who have been actively raising concerns—including Baramati MP Supriya Sule , Bhor MLA Shankar Mandekar, and the sarpanchs of Hinjewadi and Maan villages—have been left out. Notably, the Hinjewadi IT hub falls under the Bhor Assembly constituency. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Also excluded are members of the Hinjewadi Industrial Association, Hinjewadi Maan Employees and Residents Trust (HEART), and the Forum for IT Employees (FITE), who have consistently flagged civic issues such as poor road conditions, traffic congestion, drainage bottlenecks, and lack of planning authority. 'This meeting is being held without those most affected. How can it be meaningful without the presence of the local MP, MLA, sarpanchs, gram sevaks, and grassroots organisations?' asked Dnyanendra Hulsure, president of HEART. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like So sánh mức trượt giá: Hợp đồng tương lai (CFD) Bitcoin vs Ethereum IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo 'The outcome of this meeting will certainly questioned as we are not part of the discussion as we too wanted to share our views,' he said. MP Supriya Sule and MLA Shankar Mandekar, both of whom had been following up with the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on the matter, have not received invitations. 'It is surprising that no local representatives were called despite repeated letters to the CMO,' said another activist. Pavanjit Mane of FITE, which has long campaigned for better civic services in the area, said the exclusion was disappointing. 'We have submitted memorandums and even requested meetings with the CM. If included, we could have raised direct questions on why Hinjewadi continues to face such infrastructure challenges,' he said. Villagers and IT professionals from the area have echoed similar concerns. 'The sarpanch of Maan should have been on that list. These are the people who deal with the issues on a daily basis,' said a resident of Maan. When contacted, officials from the CMO told TOI that the list of invitees had been finalised. 'Sixteen members from the IT sector are attending. The list has been drawn up and approved by the CMO,' an official said. 'The minutes of the meeting could help yield positive results,''said a member from the UDD department.
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Delay in culvert construction caused flooding in Pune's Hinjewadi IT Park: PMRDA
The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has said that the delay in construction of a key culvert on the part of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) led to waterlogging in Hinjewadi Information Technology (IT) Park on June 7 despite below-average rainfall thus far in June. According to the PMRDA, the MIDC ignored the former's repeated follow-ups over the past one year. Rinaj Pathan, chief superintendent engineer, PMRDA, said, 'Water from the surrounding hills flows heavily into Hinjewadi, and MIDC was supposed to build a culvert as part of interim flood management during the metro construction. Despite year-long follow-ups, the work was not completed, which directly led to the recent flooding.' The flash flooding in Hinjewadi IT Park was triggered by just a short spell of rain and brought traffic to a standstill apart from damaging vehicles as roads in the tech hub turned into water channels. The Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjewadi, which houses over 400 IT firms and supports nearly a million jobs directly and indirectly, remains vulnerable year after year despite repeated warnings from civic groups and citizens. Below-average rain, above-average damage According to Zomato's private Automatic Weather Station (AWS) network—often relied upon due to the absence of an India Meteorological Department (IMD) station in Hinjewadi—phase 1 has recorded just 25.8 mm of rain so far this month and phase 2 only 19.2 mm; both well below the monthly average of 46.2 mm. According to experts, the scale of flooding given such low rainfall is alarming. The Forum for IT Employees (FITE) posted on social media: 'Drains are clogged with debris, silt, and construction waste from the metro project. In some areas, drains are broken or missing entirely.' The group has called for a complete audit and cleaning of drainage systems across the IT park. An FITE member, speaking anonymously, said, 'Flooding during short showers has become the norm. Employees waste hours in traffic. If permanent solutions aren't implemented, companies may need to consider remote work again.' Reactions The incident has drawn strong criticism from industry bodies, political leaders and citizens. Prashant Girbane, director-general of the Maratha Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) called the situation 'terrible'. 'This isn't just about local inconvenience—it damages India's global reputation. Many international clients rely on Hinjewadi firms for mission-critical tasks. Roads must be cleared immediately, and a long-term drainage overhaul is essential,' Girbane said. Whereas Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule posted on X: 'Water accumulation near Ryan International School and across phase 2 clearly points to the absence of basic drainage systems. MIDC must act urgently and implement sustainable flood control measures.' Former Congress MLA and party deputy chief of the state unit Mohan Joshi blamed the Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for neglecting civic responsibilities in the area. 'Flooding after a single shower is unacceptable. Infrastructure projects have stalled or are progressing at a snail's pace. In contrast, earlier Congress-led governments pushed for IT growth with matching civic upgrades,' Joshi said. Prajakta Luthade, employee, Hinjewadi phase 3, said, 'I have been working at a multinational corporation (MNC) in the Hinjewadi area for the past five years. The stretch of road between Wipro Square and Grand High Street is in extremely poor condition, and the traffic situation is deteriorating every day. The presence of large potholes, metro construction debris, open wiring and scattered material has made commuting dangerous. These issues pose a serious safety risk, especially due to the size and number of potholes. There is definitely potential for road widening and improvement, but unfortunately it seems that the concerned authorities are neglecting the matter.' Pratik Pampattiwar, a resident of Hinjewadi, said, 'The area faces severe waterlogging. The road has narrowed due to ongoing metro construction, and heavy truck traffic has worsened road conditions. Covering just seven to eight kilometres can take two to three hours. The hybrid work culture has added to the congestion, and multiple bottlenecks have formed due to construction activities, further aggravating the situation.' Hinjewadi – once Pune's poster child for tech-led urban development – now finds its future tied to how swiftly and seriously civic agencies respond given that it continues to battle not just flooding but traffic congestion, inadequate public transport, and unregulated construction.
