Solapur to Host India’s Third-Largest IT Park
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has unveiled an ambitious Information Technology (IT) initiative, announcing that Solapur is set to become the location for what is projected to be India’s third-largest IT Park. This significant development aims to establish the city as a major IT destination, offering a viable alternative to the heavily concentrated Hinjewadi hub in Pune.
The decision is primarily driven by the need to decentralise IT sector growth across Maharashtra and create substantial employment opportunities directly within Solapur. The initiative is particularly focused on providing jobs for the local youth, many of whom currently have to move to Pune and other large metropolitan areas for work.
Making the announcement during the launch of new Solapur–Mumbai and Solapur–Bengaluru air services, CM Fadnavis stated, “We will soon establish a world-class IT park in Solapur. This will generate numerous new employment opportunities for the young people of Solapur.”
Fadnavis also highlighted the issue of capacity limitations at Pune’s Hinjewadi IT Park, which is currently Maharashtra’s largest and the second-largest in India. The proposed Solapur IT Park is anticipated to alleviate some of the existing congestion in Pune while simultaneously accelerating the economic development of the Solapur region.
Initial plans indicate that the Solapur IT Park may encompass approximately 1,500 acres. A portion of the required land has been identified within the Kumbhari Industrial Estate, situated about 8–10 km from Solapur city. Officials confirm that roughly 964 hectares of this land have already been designated for the project. Furthermore, a long-pending proposal for ₹24 crore earmarked for land acquisition and necessary infrastructure development is now slated for revival.
The government is also assessing potential sites along the Solapur–Pune and Solapur–Vijaypur highways for inclusion in the project. Industry observers suggest that Solapur’s improving connectivity, both by road and air, combined with the scale of this new IT venture, could soon elevate the city’s status, positioning it on the technological map alongside established hubs like Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.