Pune: Wakad, Baner, Hinjawadi Need a Transit Hub, Say IT Employees’ Forum

Hinjawadi, 6th July 2025: The Forum for IT Employees (FITE) has appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to address the pressing need for a Public Transit Hub in Pune’s fast-growing western corridor. In a letter dated July 4, FITE Maharashtra President Pavanjit Mane and Secretary Prashant Pandit highlighted the daily commuting struggles faced by IT professionals, students, and local residents in the absence of a structured bus terminal.

In their appeal, the forum noted that areas such as Wakad, Hinjawadi, Mhalunge, Punawale, Baner, Balewadi, Sus, Ravet, and Aundh have witnessed a surge in population, especially from cities like Mumbai, Satara, Karad, Sangli, and Kolhapur. Despite this growth, commuters are left with no choice but to wait for buses on highways or under flyovers—posing serious safety and accessibility concerns, particularly during weekends and holidays.

“Thousands of IT employees, students, and working professionals have to stand along the highway or beneath bridges to catch buses to their hometowns. This is not just inconvenient—it’s a question of basic safety and dignity,” said Pavanjit Mane, President of FITE Maharashtra.

The forum underscored that a well-planned public transit hub would serve multiple vital establishments and demographics:

• Hinjawadi IT Park, home to lakhs of employees, many of whom rely on intercity transport
• Mhalunge-Balewadi Sports Complex, which regularly hosts state-level and national events
• Several educational institutions drawing students from across the country
• The Baner IT hub and High Street IT Park, with a workforce exceeding 60,000 employees
• Local residents in areas such as Vishalnagar, Pimple Saudagar, and Punawale

“With metro connectivity now expanding into Wakad and Balewadi, a centralized transit hub would further strengthen public transport efficiency and reduce traffic hazards caused by buses halting along highways,” added Prashant Pandit, Secretary of FITE Maharashtra.

The letter emphasized that such a hub would not only serve the local community but also benefit travelers heading toward Mumbai and Western Maharashtra, offering them safer and more organized transit options.

FITE has urged the Chief Minister’s office to consider this long-pending demand on priority, noting its potential to improve urban mobility, enhance commuter safety, and support Pune’s rapidly evolving western suburbs.