Pune: The development of an economic growth hub in Pune is set to get a major push following Centre’s allocation of Rs 5,000 crore for the proposed project in the Union Budget 2026 on Sunday.The announcement follows chief economic adviser BVR Subramanyam’s visit to Pune last Oct, during which he met officials from multiple departments to outline a roadmap for transforming the Pune metropolitan region into a high-growth economic zone. The plan aims to leverage Pune’s strong base in technology, automobiles and engineering goods manufacturing.As part of the Budget 2026 proposal, govt plans to develop seven city-based economic regions — Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar-Puri-Cuttack, Coimbatore-Erode-Tiruppur, Pune, Surat, Varanasi and Visakhapatnam — with each receiving Rs 5,000 crore over the next five years. “This will definitely benefit the economic development of Maharashtra as the state is also developing three growth hubs, namely MMR, Pune and Nagpur, with Niti Aayog,” chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said soon after the budget was presented on Sunday.Pune divisional commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar told TOI that Niti Aayog, state govt and Pune International Centre (PIC) had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Pune growth hub. “PIC is preparing the economic master plan for the Pune economic region, with stakeholder consultations and data collection under way. An interim report will soon be submitted for state approval. The initiative will accelerate the region’s development and support the vision for Viksit Bharat @2047,” the divisional commissioner said.Prashant Girbane, Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) director general, said the visioning exercise would help design a comprehensive and actionable economic roadmap. “MCCIA will continue to participate throughout both planning and implementation,” he said.Union minister of state for cooperation and civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the Pune growth hub would receive Rs 5,000 crore over five years to drive balanced development across the Pune Metropolitan Region. The proposed master plan will have a total outlay of Rs 80,000 crore. “The Pune growth hub spans a 6,914sqkm, covering areas under Pune district, PMC, PCMC, three cantonments, seven municipal councils, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation and others,” he said.Mohol said the project aimed to position Pune as a global centre for technology, manufacturing, education, cultural heritage and artificial intelligence, while expanding employment and strengthening infrastructure. The initiative is expected to attract significant investments and generate large-scale job opportunities across the region, he added.GRAPHICInitiative to generate large-scale job opportunitiesFUNDS BOOSTCentre has allocated Rs 5,000 crore for the development of an economic growth hub in Pune as part of Union Budget 2026PROJECT AIMTo leverage Pune’s strengths in technology, automobiles and engineering goods manufacturingTHE BIG PLANSeven city-based economic regions will be developed across India, with each receiving Rs 5,000 crore over the next five yearsThe Pune growth hub will cover 6,914sqkm, including areas under Pune district, PMC, PCMC and other local bodiesThe proposed master plan has a total outlay of Rs 80,000 crore and aims to position Pune as a global centre for technology, manufacturing, education and AIThe initiative is expected to attract investments and generate large-scale job opportunities in the regionSTATE PLANNiti Aayog, state govt and Pune International Centre have signed an MoU for the Pune growth hubStakeholder consultations and data collection are under way for the economic master plan
