By Milind Pote
For decades, Pune has been Maharashtra’s undisputed industrial and IT powerhouse. That chapter was earned through vision, timing, and execution. But as an entrepreneur rooted in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, I believe we are approaching a decisive inflection point. Over the next ten years, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will not only match Pune’s legacy, it is positioned to surpass it.
The “Pune model” of the 1990s is approaching saturation. Congestion, soaring real estate costs, and strained infrastructure are slowing momentum. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, by contrast, is entering its growth phase with two of the most powerful engines of modern development firmly in place: the Auto–EV sector and the IT revolution.
1. Building India’s EV Powerhouse
Where Pune was built on internal combustion, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is building the future. Significant investments from global and national leaders, including Toyota Kirloskar, Ather Energy, and JSW Green Mobility, are anchoring an ecosystem that is rapidly shaping the city into India’s EV manufacturing hub.
The fundamentals are decisive. We have the land bank Pune no longer does. We have the Samruddhi Mahamarg, enabling fast, reliable logistics to Mumbai and ports. With scale, supplier density, and logistics alignment, it is realistic to expect that a substantial share of India’s electric vehicles will carry a “Made in Sambhajinagar” imprint within the decade.
2. IT as the Next Growth Frontier
Can we compete with established IT clusters like Hinjewadi? The answer is yes – if we execute with intent. The AURIC Smart City offers plug-and-play infrastructure, world-class utilities, and the capacity to host data centers and Global Capability Centers (GCCs) at a fraction of the operating cost seen in saturated hubs.
The next step is clear: a dedicated IT Corridor within the city, supported by streamlined approvals and digital governance. Lower rents, shorter commutes, and a higher quality of life will attract talent that is increasingly disillusioned by traffic and cost pressures elsewhere.
3. Why the Ten-Year Window Makes Sense
Growth accelerates where there is room to build and space to breathe. Two factors make the timeline compelling:
- Connectivity: The upcoming Pune–Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Greenfield Expressway will compress travel times, effectively creating a twin-engine economic zone.
- Smart planning: Unlike organic, often chaotic expansion in older hubs, the Shendra–Bidkin nodes are designed with a long-term, 50-year vision, allowing industry, housing, and logistics to scale together.
A Message to Entrepreneurs and Youth
We are no longer the underdog. We are becoming an industrial magnet. To business owners and the city’s youth: do not default to Pune or Bengaluru for opportunity. The most significant wealth-creation story of the next decade is unfolding here.
If the entrepreneurial community partners with the new municipal leadership to deliver a business-first environment, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will emerge as a national benchmark, efficient, future-ready, and globally competitive.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is not catching up. It is taking the lead.
Milind Pote
Entrepreneur | President, BJP Udyog Aghadi (Garkheda Mandal)