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Hundreds of IT employees marched through Pune’s Hinjewadi on Sunday, demanding an end to pothole-ridden roads, traffic snarls and poor waste management in one of India’s key tech hubs. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray joined the protest, questioning why basic civic amenities remained unresolved in 2026.
The march, according to Times of India, saw participants from Hinjewadi and neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad come together to remind the state government of assurances made last year, after a similar wave of protests over the area’s infrastructure.
Thackeray, who had met residents last month, told reporters at the protest site, “Today I protested in the Hinjewadi IT sector area. Residents, IT employees, all of them are coming here to protest…
Their demands are very basic: roads without potholes, footpaths, start the metro, which is ready, pick up the waste on time, and supply water as it’s supposed to be given. I think if you can’t do this in 2026, what kind of regime is this?”
#WATCH | Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said, "Today I protested in the Hinjewadi IT sector area. Residents, IT employees, all of them are coming here to protest… Their demands are very basic: roads without potholes, footpaths, start… https://t.co/mfuQvStbIO pic.twitter.com/rHkHSAPHIQ
— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2026
Why Are IT Employees Fed Up?
TOI quoted IT professional Vikas Singh, who said residents “pay crores of rupees in taxes” yet face roads “filled with potholes” and no proper footpaths.
Another resident, Smita Patil, said four years on, “nothing has changed,” despite Hinjewadi’s status as a major tech hub.
The protest also came a year after last monsoon left parts of the area flooded and pothole-scarred, prompting meetings between residents and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
What Role Did The Metro Delay Play?
Thackeray also flagged the stalled Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro corridor, telling TOI the line was “ready” but its launch delayed “because of the government’s inability to get VIP dates,” despite an original 2025 target.
Pavanjeet Mane of the Forum for IT Employees said the march was necessary to show “IT employees too can take to the streets to protest,” urging faster repair work.
Is Government Responding?
According to TOI, Sachin Londhe of the Pimpri Chinchwad Cooperative Housing Societies Federation said several residents had died in accidents caused by poor roads.
Meanwhile, the state has moved to act: Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar last Thursday formed a high-power committee under Pune collector Jitendra Dudi, which has already approved Rs 426 crore for internal roads and directed MIDC to speed up work in its jurisdiction.
Coordination among MIDC, PMRDA, NHAI and local bodies has long been cited as the core hurdle in fixing Hinjewadi’s infrastructure.
