Ajit Pawar’s death leaves deep grief across Pimpri-Chinchwad, the city he built brick by brick

ldquoBaramati may be my birthplace but PimpriChinchwad is my karmabhoomirdquo Ajit Pawar often said and he lived by those wordsThe sudden demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Pune district Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on Wednesday has left PimpriChinchwad numb with grief For the industrial township he helped build and nurture for over three decades the loss feels intensely personalAcross the twin cities residents speak of a deep sense of emptiness Many say the city feels orphaned mdash such was the emotional and administrative bond Pawar shared with PimpriChinchwadDiscipline and visionHaving covered the PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation PCMC beat for over two decades one thing stands out clearly no leader understood the cityrsquos pulse quite like PawarDuring the recent civic elections he spent nearly a month in the city campaigning relentlessly For journalists covering him there was one unwritten rule arrive early Pawar was never late not onceDuring the campaign he even hosted an informal interaction with journalists in Pimpri Smiling he opened the session by saying ldquoAsk anything I wonrsquot get angryrdquo The room burst into laughter True to his word he answered every question candidly and calmly earning respect across the media fraternityHe usually arrived in the city early in the morning for meetings inspections inaugurations or surprise site visits His command over administration was firm his expectations clear Officials knew that delays excuses and poor execution would not be toleratedPolitical rootsPawarrsquos political journey is deeply intertwined with PimpriChinchwad In 1991 he contested his first Lok Sabha election from the Baramati constituency which at the time included the twin city His victory marked the beginning of a long association that would shape local politics for decadesUnder his leadership the Nationalist Congress Party NCP ruled the PCMC uninterrupted for 15 years a period that came to define the cityrsquos transformation Pawar approached urban development with foresight preparing longterm plans by studying the cityrsquos future population industrial growth and infrastructure needsPlanned growth infraHe began by identifying core civic problems and addressing them systematically Road connectivity public transport alternative traffic corridors water supply and sewage systems were all planned with precision Importantly he ensured that rapid urbanisation did not come at the cost of environmental balance As the guardian minister and later as deputy chief minister and finance minister Pawar ensured consistent financial support for PimpriChinchwad His political influence helped the PCMC secure central funding without bureaucratic hurdlesUnder the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission JNNURM the city received nearly 2600 crore accelerating projects related to roads bus transport solid waste management water supply sewerage systems and slum rehabilitationLandmark projectsSeveral defining projects were initiated under Pawarrsquos guidance Pune International Exhibition and Convention Centre on 200 acres at Moshi Central Business District on 33 acres along the MumbaiPune National Highway Science Park now a symbol of the cityrsquos educational ambitions Expansion and modernisation of roads flyovers grade separators and railway overbridges Development of public gardens and civic spaces Strengthening of healthcare infrastructure which later helped the city record one of the lowest mortality rates during the COVID19 pandemicTechnologydrivenAjit Pawar strongly encouraged the adoption of technology in civic administration The eSuvidha platform allowed citizens to pay taxes and utility bills online improving transparency and efficiencySocial welfare schemes flourished under his watch Affordable housing for the urban poor the Nigdi Otta Scheme improved health services and upgraded civic amenities became hallmarks of PCMC governanceWomen empowerment remained a major focus Selfhelp groups received interestfree loans of Rs 15000 to Rs 20000 Sewing machines were distributed and training programmes in driving and computer skills were launched to promote financial independenceSchemes were also introduced for workers students sportspersons and senior citizens ensuring inclusive growth The Sarthi helpline started by PCMC later became a model replicated across the stateNo compromise on qualityAjit Pawarrsquos punctuality was legendary but equally notable was his insistence on quality He planned with the next 50 years in mind Cleanliness discipline and aesthetics were nonnegotiableHe personally inspected projects preferred onsite inaugurations and rarely abandoned any work midway Officials recall how he would arrive in the city at dawn to review projects keeping the administration constantly alertAs a result PimpriChinchwadrsquos development was not just rapid it was structured durable and futurereadyJust as he loved Baramati Ajit Pawar loved PimpriChinchwad deeply That affection translated into lasting institutions modern infrastructure and a civic culture rooted in discipline and efficiencyHis recent citizen outreach meetings in the city had drawn an overwhelming public response a reminder of the connection he never lost with the people1991Year Ajit Pawar first contested Lok Sabha polls from Baramati15No of yrs NCP ruled PCMC