Overview
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged a “very genuine” infrastructure crisis in Chakan and said on Tuesday that a major programme of road and utility upgrades will start after the monsoon.
- Industry representatives say roughly 20 small and medium factories have shortlisted Khandala MIDC as an alternative after months of complaints about potholes, congested approach and internal roads, and repeated accidents.
- Those firms estimate the move could affect about 4,000 employees and around Rs 1,000 crore of annual business activity, figures the government says are overstated but has not disputed outright.
- The state says MIDC and the Public Works Department are jointly developing fixes and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar held a meeting with ‘positive decisions’, while a separate committee led by Dr. Anil Kakodkar will examine rail alignment issues near the GMRT observatory.
- Chakan is a major automotive and supplier hub that houses global carmakers and many MSMEs, and officials propose converting MIDC zones into industrial townships so local revenue can fund longer‑term upkeep and prevent future breakdowns.