Congress Accuses BJP Of ‘Misleading Pune’ Over Smart City Project, Demands Public Apology
Congress Accuses BJP Of ‘Misleading Pune’ Over Smart City Project, Demands Public Apology ( Representative Image )
Pune, June 25, 2026: Senior Vice-President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee and former MLA Mohan Joshi has accused the BJP-led Central Government of misleading Pune residents by promising world-class urban development under the Smart City Mission and subsequently winding up the project without delivering the expected results.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, Joshi alleged that the Smart City initiative was promoted extensively by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but failed to achieve its objectives in Pune. He said BJP leaders should publicly apologise to Pune residents for what he described as a betrayal of public trust.
According to Joshi, the Smart City Mission was launched with great fanfare, including a major event held in Balewadi. He claimed that the Centre discontinued the earlier Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), introduced during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and replaced it with a scheme that failed to deliver the promised transformation.
He pointed out that the Baner-Balewadi area was selected as the first phase of Pune’s Smart City development, but alleged that the project was never fully completed. Joshi noted that BJP leaders had celebrated Pune’s selection under the scheme, yet have remained silent following its closure.
The former legislator also criticised elected representatives from Pune, including Union and state ministers, Rajya Sabha members, and BJP MLAs, saying they should collectively apologise to citizens for the discontinuation of the initiative.
Joshi further claimed that the Pune Smart City Development Corporation Limited has now been officially shut down by the Centre and the state government. He alleged that while nearly ₹980 crore was spent under the Smart City Mission over the last 11 years, Pune residents have not seen significant improvements in basic civic infrastructure.
Demanding greater transparency, Joshi called on BJP leaders to provide a detailed account of how the funds allocated to the project were utilised.
He also criticised the government’s handling of other urban infrastructure projects, including the Mula-Mutha river improvement initiative and the JICA-funded sewage treatment and water reuse project, alleging that these schemes were marked more by publicity and inauguration ceremonies than by tangible outcomes.
The BJP has not yet responded to the allegations made by the Congress leader.
