Pune will be the start up capital of India: Fadnavis

Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, igniting the hopes of one of India’s IT hubs said, “Pune will be the start-up capital of India within 2-3 years, a position currently held by Bangalore. Start-up companies will avail lakhs of job opportunities for the youth. The BJP government in Centre and state is determined to elevate Pune’s status to make it the start-up capital.” The CM was in the city rallying for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections.

He also said that an Integrated Transport System would be developed in the city before in Mumbai. “Timetable of metros, buses will be adjusted. Passengers can book tickets at once, for metro and buses, on mobile. The system will enable bus/metro services from particular stations. Thus passengers can decide how to travel. This will decrease two and four wheelers on the road making the city less congested.”

Mr Fadnavis also said that it is under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the centre, and BJP, has been carving out opportunities following his urbanisation and development mantra. “As per 2011 census, out of 11.20 crore of total state population, 5.5 crore stays in 300 cities. 75 per cent of these stay in 26 cities, including Pune and Mumbai. Given abundant job opportunities available in cities, population influx has been on the rise leading to slums and illegal construction. However, because of insincerity of the earlier government, infrastructural developments in these cities are not in proportion to this influx,” he added.