Pune IT Sector Pushes For Work-From-Home Again After PM Modi’s Appeal On Fuel Saving

IT employees in Pune have once again started demanding work-from-home arrangements after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for reduced fuel consumption amid rising global tensions and energy concerns. Traffic congestion, long travel hours and rising fuel costs have brought the issue back into focus.

The demand for work-from-home has regained momentum in Pune’s IT sector after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens and companies to reduce fuel consumption and prioritise remote working wherever possible.

The renewed discussion comes amid rising concerns over global energy prices and tensions in West Asia. During his recent address, the Prime Minister urged people to reduce petrol and diesel usage and encouraged alternatives such as public transport, electric vehicles and remote working.

Following the appeal, several IT employees and organisations in Pune have intensified demands for flexible work arrangements, especially in major IT hubs like Hinjewadi, Kharadi, Magarpatta, Baner, Balewadi and Viman Nagar.

Employees say daily travel has become exhausting due to severe traffic congestion in and around Pune’s IT corridors. According to reports, many professionals spend two to three hours every day stuck in traffic while travelling to and from offices.

I hope all of us heed the Prime Minister's appeal.

As a company, we adopted
Work From Office fully in recent months, but we will revisit Work From Home now.

We have adopted natural farming in our farm and we are also actively looking for ways to cut diesel use. pic.twitter.com/slcddnPXSU

— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) May 11, 2026

Workers claim the worsening congestion is not only wasting fuel but also affecting physical and mental health. Waterlogging during monsoon season, slow-moving traffic and inadequate public transport facilities have further increased frustration among commuters.

The issue is especially visible in Hinjewadi’s Rajiv Gandhi IT Park, one of the largest IT hubs in the country. The area reportedly houses around 270 small and large IT companies, with nearly four to five lakh employees commuting daily.

Employees and organisations have argued that the rapid increase in offices and vehicles has not been matched by road expansion or alternative transport routes. Long queues of vehicles during morning and evening peak hours have become a routine problem, leading to fuel wastage and pollution.

Reports also suggest that some technology leaders are reconsidering remote work policies after the Prime Minister’s appeal. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu stated on social media platform X that the company was seriously considering restarting work-from-home arrangements after having resumed regular office attendance in recent months.

Vembu also said the company was exploring ways to reduce diesel consumption and support employees and small vendors connected to office ecosystems.

IT employee groups in Pune are now urging both state and central governments to issue formal guidelines encouraging companies to adopt flexible work models wherever possible.

Many workers believe that wider implementation of remote work could significantly reduce fuel consumption, traffic pressure and pollution levels in the city.

However, some experts have also pointed out that prolonged work-from-home arrangements can affect businesses dependent on office crowds, including canteens, tea stalls, transport operators and local vendors around IT parks.

The debate around work-from-home had largely reduced after companies resumed office operations post-pandemic, but rising fuel concerns and worsening traffic conditions have once again pushed the issue into public discussion.