FITE demands WFH in Pune IT park after heavy rains leads to mess

Mumbai: As heavy rains pounded Maharashtra’s IT capital, Pune, the Forum for IT Employees (FITE) has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to declare mandatory work-from-home (WFH) doing the monsoon, particularly in the Hinjewadi area.

The FITE represents IT/ITES/BPO/KPO and Telecom sector employees - and fight for their rights.

“If you guys have any care of IT employees then plz declare mandatory work from home for Hinjewadi IT park till rains are over & during rainy seasons,” the FITE posted on X and tagged Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state Industries Minister Uday Samant and Baramati MP Supriya Sule.

Parts of  Pune were severely waterlogged on Tuesday following intense rainfall that lashed the city. From Kothrud and Viman Nagar to Dhayari, Hinjawadi, and Hadapsar, almost every major area witnessed significant waterlogging, leading to traffic chaos and commuter distress.

FITE also pointed out that there are multiple agencies involved including Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority, Public Works Department, Gram Panchayat, National Highway Authority of India. "This is one reason they deliver poor infra plus leaders. They just beat drums rather than check ground reality…To the matter of fact the city growth and infra quality are inversely proportional. City grows but with poor infra quality,” it said. 

On the role of employers, it said “Imagine even after heavy rains were predicted, still they are calling lakhs of people to the office when the same can be delivered from home . At least consider rains”. 

Hinjawadi (also spelt Hinjewadi) houses the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, a large tech and business park spread over 2,800 acres, which was built by the MIDC. The business park has offices of over 800 companies.