Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant has defended his inspection of the Chakan industrial area in Pune district amid criticism over the short duration of his visit and allegations that temporary repairs were carried out before his arrival.
Samant said the government was not interested in turning the issue into a political controversy and instead wanted to address the concerns raised by industrialists, including poor roads, traffic congestion, parking problems and other infrastructure issues.
Why Is Chakan MIDC Facing Criticism?
Chakan is one of Maharashtra’s major industrial centres, with several manufacturing and automobile companies operating in the area.
However, industrialists have repeatedly raised concerns over pothole-filled roads, traffic congestion, inadequate parking and infrastructure problems.
The situation is complicated by the fact that different parts of the infrastructure are handled by multiple agencies, including the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Public Works Department and local bodies.
The state government announced a committee to look into the problems shortly before Samant’s visit.
‘I Truly Want to Deliver Justice’
Defending his visit, Samant said his objective was to understand the problems faced by industrialists and ensure that they received solutions.
“I have not come here for petty remarks or nitpicking. I truly want to deliver justice to the industrialists,” Samant said.
He said representatives of industrial associations had identified a few roads where immediate improvements could significantly reduce the problems faced by businesses.
According to Samant, repairing two or three important roads could provide around 25% relief from the difficulties in the area.
He added that tenders had already been issued for some projects, while site selection was pending for others. Parking, he said, remained a major concern at certain locations.
Government Sets Up Committee Under Pune Collector
The Maharashtra government has appointed Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi to head a committee looking into the problems faced by Chakan.
Dudi has also been appointed as the nodal officer responsible for coordinating work between the different agencies.
Samant said the government would take decisions on issues involving these departments instead of simply conducting inspections and leaving without action.
‘I Went to the Spots They Wanted to Show Me’
Samant also responded to criticism that his inspection lasted only around 30 minutes.
He said he had never claimed that he inspected the entire Chakan industrial area.
“I went to the spots where the association representatives who invited me took me. They took me to the places they wanted to show me and presented the ground reality,” he said.
According to the minister, the locations visited were selected by the industrial representatives accompanying him.
Samant Hits Back at Political Criticism
Samant urged political leaders not to turn the Chakan infrastructure issue into a political battle.
“My request is that instead of making political capital out of this, let us try to deliver justice to them. We do engage in political matters during election time anyway,” he said.
The minister’s comments came after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray visited Chakan MIDC on Saturday and criticised the Maharashtra government over the condition of the industrial area.
‘I Will Now Come Every Day’
Samant was also questioned about temporary repairs reportedly carried out shortly before his visit.
Taking a sarcastic swipe at the criticism, he said, “I will now come every day so that everything becomes completely fixed and pristine.”
He also asked people to compare the condition of the area when previous visitors had inspected it with its condition after preparations were made following the announcement of his visit.
Officials Warned of Strict Action
Samant said officials found responsible for negligence would face action.
“Today, I am going to sternly reprimand two or four officials who deserve it before leaving. If there has been negligence in certain places, action will be taken. If action is taken here, officials across Maharashtra will be in line,” he said.
The minister indicated that officials would be held accountable if shortcomings were found in areas under their responsibility.
Funds Sanctioned for 27 Km of Roads
Samant said the government had already sanctioned funds for the concretisation of 27 km of roads in Chakan.
Some of the work has already been completed, he said, adding that unused funds would be redirected towards other works identified as necessary by industrial associations and residents.
“Everything is necessary, but priority will be given where there is an emergency,” Samant said.
Multiple Agencies Must Work Together
The minister said Chakan’s problems cannot be solved by a single department because several agencies are involved.
Issues concerning PMRDA, the municipal corporation, MIDC, MSECDCL and the Jal Jeevan Mission were among those discussed.
Industrialists also showed officials areas where underground electricity cables had been installed.
Samant said the inspection was intended to give the government a representative picture of the problems, while additional issues would be presented during the meeting with industrialists and officials.
‘Works Do Not Get Done Merely’ Through Inspections
Samant stressed that visiting Chakan alone would not solve its infrastructure problems.
“Works do not get done merely by a minister or anyone else coming and conducting an inspection. It requires a decision-maker, and we are going to leave after taking those decisions,” he said.
The minister said the government intended to take decisions involving the agencies responsible for the area’s infrastructure.
‘We Will Not Rest Until 100% Justice Is Delivered’
Samant also spoke about a complaint he received after the inspection.
He clarified that the complaint was not related to MIDC but involved a land dispute concerning PMRDA. He said authorities would examine the issue and work towards providing justice to the complainant.
The minister maintained that the government would continue working with the various agencies until the concerns of Chakan’s industrial community were comprehensively addressed.
“Since multiple agencies have taken charge, we will not rest until 100% justice is delivered to the industrialists,” he said.
The focus now shifts from the political debate over the inspection to whether the promised road repairs, traffic improvements, parking facilities and other infrastructure measures are implemented on the ground.
