There are many such cities in the country which started settling outside the major cities and later created their own identity. Cities like Noida and Gurugram were established outside the country’s capital Delhi. Cities like Pune outside the country’s financial capital Mumbai and Pimpri-Chinchwad situated outside Pune kept coming up in this sequence. At present, Pimpri-Chinchwad is in the news because the Pawar family, which is considered very important in the politics of Maharashtra, has joined hands for the Municipal Corporation elections of this city. Ajit Pawar says that once the Municipal Corporation of this city was one of the richest bodies in Asia. Being an industrial city, Ajit Pawar is right to a great extent and this is also the reason why all the parties active in Maharashtra want to capture it.
This city, which has a history of thousands of years, is currently known for its many industries. The city is also known as the family stronghold of Sharad Pawar. The same stronghold which BJP snatched away in the year 2017. The same fort to save which the family divided into two factions is coming together once again. This once barren area was converted into a field of factories and the fertilizer of policies and water of vision transformed this area into an industrial city in no time. Let us know the whole story of this city becoming an industrial city.
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What is Pimpri Chinchwad?
For the people of Hindi speaking states, first of all it is important to understand the name and its meaning. Actually it is made up of two villages. It is believed that Pimpri means Peepal and Chinch means Tamarind and Vad means Banyan. In the past, villages and cities were named in a similar manner, so this story seems more or less correct. If we look at the map, the last city on the head of Pune between Mumbai and Pune is Pimpri-Chinchwad, but now it is separate from Pune. The Mula River separates Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad and flows almost through the middle of Pimpri-Chinchwad. Some other localities of Pimpri Chinchwad are Bhosari, Wakad, Hinjewadi, Khichli, Talwade, Moshi and Marunji.
If we look at history, Pimpri-Chinchwad will also be named among some of the oldest cities of the country. About 2 thousand years ago, the kingdom of Hindu king Bhoj was in this area and Bhosari area used to be his capital. The name of Raja Bhoj’s kingdom was Bhojpuri. When MIDC was formed here, its center was also kept in Bhosari. Archaeologists have also found evidence that the city is thousands of years old. Earthen pots, tools etc. are kept in the museum of Pune. It was published in the Bombay Gazette of 1885 that at that time there used to be a 14 feet high gate in Pimpri-Chinchwad. This area was also a part of the Yadav dynasty from 850 to 1310.
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In the book named ‘Sanskritchya Pavulkhuna’, it has been written about the relationship between Pimpri-Chinchwad and Marathas. This book mentions the Sathavai Temple of Pimpri, Tuljabhavani Temple of Akurdi and Khandoba Temple of Bhosari. In the same book, there is mention of a Wada (big house) which was built by Devji Tapkir in the year 1731. Devji Tapkir was a Sardar or Captain and this Wada built by him is still present in Chikhali village. There used to be a boundary wall around the villages of Bhosari and Chikhali which was demolished in 1818.
Factories grew on barren land
The main reason for the rise of fortunes of modern Pimpri-Chinchwad was the highway connecting Mumbai and Pune. The areas around Pune got the benefit of this proximity of both the cities and Pimpri-Chinchwad had a major share in the benefits. By the 1970s, all these villages were united and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation was formed.
After the country got independence, the first challenge was to stand on its own feet. On one hand, the country had to arrange food grains to feed itself, while on the other hand, factories had to be set up to keep pace with the world. In this sequence, it was decided that Hindustan Antibiotics Factory would be set up. In the year 1955, the place decided to set up the first unit of this company manufacturing life-saving medicines was Pimpri, located on the Pune-Mumbai Highway.
This company was to be set up with the help of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and yes, penicillin, amoxicillin and other anti-fungal medicines were to be made. Within a few years, this company became an important center for manufacturing medicines and Pimpri also moved towards becoming a big industrial city. After this, Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Limited was also transferred from Mumbai to Pimpri.
Yashwant stayed with Chavanin Nei Khichi Krichi
In 1960, when Maharashtra became a separate state and Yashwantrao Chavan became the first Chief Minister of the state, he started giving a new direction to the state. He formed the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to help those setting up factories in the state and get all the work done quickly. The population of Mumbai was increasing rapidly and at the same time factories were coming up in Pimpri. The old highway was acting as a link which was very important for these industries. Within a short time, Bajaj Automobiles Limited and Tata Motors also moved to Pimpri.
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While Bajaj set up its two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturing plant in Akurdi, Tata started making heavy vehicles. Within a few years, Finolex also set up its unit in Pimpri. Within a few years, Chief Minister Yashwant Rao Chavan made an industrial policy under which cheap plots and incentives were given to companies so that they work in Maharashtra only. When electricity, water and road connectivity were provided, businessmen also started liking the place.
MIDC started setting up small and big industries in about 3000 acres and the number of factories here increased every year. Initially such companies established their base here which are called Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). When OEM companies were established, there was a need for vendors who provided spare parts. In such a situation, local businessmen also got strength and they also jumped into the business. Within no time, 14 to 15 thousand units were installed here and every work of the automobile industry started happening here. When the 1970s came, some Swedish companies also moved to Pimpri Chinchwad. Vulcan Laval, Sandvik and SKF established their plants here. At present, more than 600 companies are working here and more than 20 lakh people have got employment.
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