Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has acknowledged that the infrastructure situation in the Chakan industrial area of Pune district is serious and said the state government is working to address the problems by bringing the agencies involved under a coordinated mechanism led by the Pune district collector. 
Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis said the presence of several agencies in the industrial belt had resulted in a lack of clear responsibility for resolving infrastructure-related issues. He said the government was therefore looking at making the district collector responsible for coordinating the agencies and ensuring that the problems are addressed. 
Chakan is a major automobile manufacturing and industrial hub near Pune and has attracted a large number of manufacturing and ancillary companies. However, traffic congestion and gaps in basic infrastructure have become concerns for businesses operating in the area. 
The Chief Minister’s remarks came in response to concerns raised by NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar after his visit to the Chakan industrial belt. Pawar had raised the issue through social media and called for urgent measures to prevent companies from shifting their operations out of the area. 
Fadnavis said he had responded to Pawar because the senior leader should receive accurate information about the situation. He also defended Maharashtra’s record in attracting and retaining industries, saying the state has the highest number of companies that have commenced operations and the maximum number of functional industrial units. 
According to Fadnavis, figures cited about companies that are not operational can be misleading because some of those businesses had never actually started operations in the state. He maintained that Maharashtra continues to have a strong industrial base. 
The issue gained urgency after 20 small-scale companies operating in the Chakan MIDC area said they had decided to shift their operations to the Khandala industrial belt in Satara district. The companies, which together employ more than 2,000 workers, cited severe traffic congestion and inadequate infrastructure as key reasons for the proposed relocation. 
Pawar had described the decision by the companies to consider shifting as a serious matter and urged the state government to take immediate steps to retain industries and safeguard employment. He pointed to problems related to traffic, pollution, water supply, electricity and roads in the Chakan MIDC area. 
Pawar also called for infrastructure development in Chakan, Talegaon and other industrial estates across Maharashtra to be taken up on a priority basis. He specifically highlighted potholes, deteriorating roads and traffic congestion as issues requiring immediate attention. 
A key concern raised by Pawar was the involvement of multiple agencies in Chakan. He sought better coordination among the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Public Works Department (PWD) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which are involved in different infrastructure and development activities in the region. 
He also suggested that the government convene a high-level meeting with industrialists and create a special single-window mechanism through which companies can report infrastructure and operational problems and receive timely resolutions. 
The companies’ decision to consider relocation came shortly after the state government assured that infrastructure in the Chakan MIDC area would be upgraded. The latest response from Fadnavis indicates that the government is now looking at a more coordinated administrative approach, with the district collector expected to bring the different agencies together. 
For Chakan’s industrial belt, the immediate concern is not only improving roads and managing traffic but also ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with the concentration of manufacturing activity. Better coordination between the agencies responsible for the area will be important for preventing operational difficulties from affecting existing industries and future investment decisions. 
Source PTI