Union Budget: Pune a leading contender for college townships close to industrial corridors, say educationists

3 minutes of readingPuneFebruary 1, 2026 08:53 pm IST

Pune, a well-known educational hub along with a strong industrial corridor, involving multiple sectors, is one of the leading candidates for the creation of ‘university townships’ announced in the Union Budget on February 1, say city educationists.

The government will support the states in the creation of five university municipalities in regions of important industrial and logistics corridors, as announced in the budget presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. “These planned academic zones will house multiple universities, colleges, research institutions, skill centers and residential complexes,” the budget document said.

Savitribai Phule Pro Vice Chancellor Pune University (SPPU), Professor Parag Kalkar opined that the proposal to establish these university townships near industrial corridors was a notable feature of the budget. He said, “Pune, as an ‘education hub of the East’ and a major global hub for IT, automobiles and manufacturing, is the most suitable candidate for such a municipality. With its dense ecosystem of world-class universities and proximity to industrial belts like Chakan, Hinjewadi and Talegaon, Pune offers the perfect synergy for this model to succeed.”

Professor Sanjay Gandhe, director, Pune Institute of Information Technology (PICT), emphasized that the presence of skilled manpower around Pune would also make Pune an obvious choice for the said municipality. He commented, “Pune is an IT hub and there are a lot of fintech companies here too. We also have skilled manpower present in Pune and many skill-oriented courses are also being conducted. Naturally, you will get good manpower in and around Pune.”

Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, chancellor of Symbiosis International University (Deemed), said Pune was an ideal location for the pilot project of this proposal. He added: “Pune is absolutely a suitable place. It already has many universities and on the outskirts of areas of Pune like Chakan and Hinjewadi there are a large number of industries. University townships could come here. Pune is just the ideal place and in fact they can do the pilot in Pune. We have all kinds of industries – services, manufacturing, automobiles etc.”

Professor Preeti Joshi, principal, School of Liberal Arts, Sri Balaji University, said factors like favorable climate, social life and availability of transport connectivity also give Pune an advantage. He said, “Though it is not clear what the locations of these college townships would be, I think Pune could certainly emerge as a possible location for the same. Factors like good climatic and social conditions, good rainfall and water availability, excellent air, road and rail connectivity make Pune a perfect choice. The presence of small, medium and large manufacturing facilities on all four sides of Pune and a massive IT industry base can very effectively facilitate industry-academia collaborations.”

Soham Shah is a correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with experience in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous, research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Experience Role: Correspondent covering education and urban affairs in Pune. Specialization: Its main objective is education, but it also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights and state policy. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reporting, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Their late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-focused reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human rights stories: 1. Investigations and Governance “Express Impact: Mother’s name now a must for downloading birth certificate from PMC site” (December 20, 2025) – Reports on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following its reports previous statements on the inclusion of gender in administrative documents. “44-acre Mahar land controversy: In June, a Pune official sought land eviction at the firm behest of Pawar’s son” (November 9, 2025) – An investigative article on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education and University Life Faculty crisis at SPPU affects research and administrative work: 62% of government approved posts are vacant, more than 75% in many departments (September 12, 2025) – A research paper on faculty vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. “Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why the National Curriculum Framework recommends a Class 6 third language” (July 2) – This in-depth article discusses the reasons behind why the state’s decision to introduce a Class 1 third language was controversial. “Decline in number of schools and teachers in Maharashtra but increase in student enrollment: Report” (January 2025): Analysis of discrepancies in state’s education data despite increase in the number of students. 3. Human Rights and Social Issues “Aanchal Mamidawar Was Brave After Her Family Killed Her Boyfriend” (December 17, 2025) – A deeply personal and hard-hitting article/opinion column on the “crime of love” and honor killings in modern India. “‘People don’t respect the disabled’: Meet the man who has become the face of racist attacks against Indians” (November 29, 2025) – Profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyberbullying. Distinctive style Soham is known for his vision of civil liberties. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized, whether students fighting for university democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents fighting crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his contributions to “Breathless Pune”). He is adept at linking Pune’s hyperlocal issues to broader national conversations about law and freedom. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 …Read more

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