Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday identified “dadagiri” (bullying) by certain groups as the biggest obstacle to Pune’s development, warning that such practices threaten the city’s status as a premier economic hub. Speaking at the launch of the Pune Metropolitan Region Growth Hub (PMR G-Hub) initiative, aimed at boosting the region’s Rs 4.2 lakh crore economy, Fadnavis criticized elements pressuring industries to hire specific individuals, source raw materials from them, or award contracts exclusively to their associates.

“This dadagiri is the primary bottleneck in Pune’s progress. It restricts investors’ freedom to make cost-effective choices, undermining global competitiveness,” Fadnavis said. He stressed that while the government has streamlined processes—reducing clearance times to 30 days via single-window systems—the broader social and political ecosystem must support businesses. “If industries face such interference, they cannot survive or compete globally,” he warned, noting Pune’s 7.5% contribution to India’s GDP and its role as an IT, automotive, and manufacturing hub.

The CM’s remarks come amid rising concerns over local extortion rackets, with 127 cases of industrial coercion reported in Pune in 2024, per state police data. Fadnavis called for eradicating this “mentality” to unlock Pune’s potential, which includes 14% of Maharashtra’s 3.6 lakh MSMEs. The PMR G-Hub, backed by Rs 1,200 crore in initial funding, aims to enhance infrastructure and attract Rs 50,000 crore in investments by 2030, but Fadnavis emphasized that curbing such practices is critical to success.

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