Pune: Urban development must be rooted in the needs of the people, or else cities like Pune will continue to face increasing challenges, warned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Speaking at a workshop organized by the Urban Development Department at YASHADA, aimed at municipal commissioners and chief officers from across Maharashtra, Fadnavis emphasized that the focus of city planning should be on providing better education, healthcare, employment, and entertainment to urban dwellers.
He pointed out that a lack of a cohesive and inclusive urban development policy has created gaps in infrastructure and services across the state’s cities. With nearly 60 million people living in 450 cities, Maharashtra is the second most urbanized state in India. Fadnavis stated that improving urban living conditions could significantly benefit half the state’s population.
Highlighting the crucial role of cities in national growth, Fadnavis stressed the importance of empowering local authorities to provide high-quality services. He was joined at the event by Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde, Minister of State Madhuri Misal, Additional Chief Secretary Asimkumar Gupta, and Principal Secretary Dr. K. H. Govindraj.
The Chief Minister raised concerns over the underdevelopment of several urban areas due to insufficient planning and emphasized the urgent need to bolster basic infrastructure like healthcare, sanitation, and education. He advocated for stronger implementation of both central and state schemes to ensure better services, especially for underprivileged children in municipal schools.
Additionally, Fadnavis called for stringent monitoring of water supply and sewage projects to eliminate delays and inefficiencies. He emphasized that sustainable urban growth requires robust funding mechanisms, including partnerships with private investors, and that cities must enhance their tax systems to ensure long-term development.
To streamline urban governance, Fadnavis introduced a 150-day action plan focusing on digitization, e-governance, and human resource development. This initiative aims to improve administrative efficiency and ensure effective implementation of civic projects. He underlined that adopting modern technology is vital to achieving Maharashtra’s vision of becoming a fully developed state by 2047.
