Pune: Niti Aayog CEO Proposes Integrated Economic Plan to Boost Regional Growth
Pune: Niti Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam announced an integrated economic plan to accelerate Pune’s growth, drawing inspiration from similar initiatives in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Surat, and Visakhapatnam. Speaking at the Pune International Business Summit 2025, organized by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), Subrahmanyam emphasized the need for a strategic, interconnected approach to Pune’s development.
Key Highlights of the Initiative:
- NITI Aayog’s Role: The Indian government’s policy think tank will lead the formulation of a comprehensive economic plan for Pune, integrating various ongoing projects.
- Objective: The plan aims to enhance infrastructure, boost employment opportunities, and promote sustainable development in Pune.
- Collaboration: NITI Aayog will work with the Maharashtra state government, MCCIA, and other industry stakeholders to design a structured roadmap within the next six months.
- Focus Areas: The initiative will prioritize:
- Urban infrastructure upgrades to support growing industrial and residential needs.
- Industrial expansion, particularly in emerging sectors.
- Skill development programs to align with evolving job market demands.
- Sustainable growth, ensuring balanced environmental and economic progress.
- Long-Term Vision: Pune is envisioned as a model city that balances economic growth with inclusivity, leveraging its strengths in IT, education, and manufacturing.
- Implementation Strategy: The plan will be executed in phases, with continuous monitoring and adjustments based on real-time data and feedback.
NITI Aayog’s earlier models have successfully transformed regions like Surat, where a structured development plan helped strengthen its textile and jewellery industries while diversifying into new sectors. Similarly, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) initiative focused on utilizing its financial sector to develop technology hubs and tap into its coastal advantages. A plan for Visakhapatnam is also nearing completion.
Subrahmanyam stressed the importance of inclusive urban development, stating, “Cities have to be places where the rich, the poor, and the middle class can live together. You need the entire segment. You cannot have a city only of the poor or of the rich.”
Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (Mitra) CEO Praveen Pardeshi highlighted Pune’s role in the state’s economy, noting that over 50% of Maharashtra’s GDP comes from key districts like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Thane. He also warned that Pune’s stronghold in the automobile industry must evolve with global trends like electric vehicles (EVs) to avoid obsolescence.
“Pune is an automobile hub, but already everybody is moving into EV and beyond. Industry bodies like MCCIA should think of what will happen to the huge automobile cluster in 5-10 years when nobody is going to use a fuel car,” he remarked.
This initiative marks a significant step in ensuring Pune’s long-term economic resilience and competitiveness while maintaining sustainable and inclusive urban development.
