Skill Development Centers to Be Set Up Across Maharashtra with Tata’s Support to Empower Youth: Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Lohgaon and Vadgaon Sheri to Soon Get New Skill Development Centers

Pune : Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister of Pune District, Ajit Pawar, announced that skill development centers will be established across various parts of Maharashtra to empower youth through employment and to provide trained manpower to industries. He added that in the near future, skill development centers would be set up in the Lohgaon and Vadgaon Sheri areas to provide students with modern and industry-relevant training.

Pawar was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of a Tata-operated skill development center in Baner, a joint initiative by the Tata Group, Urban Development Department, and Pune Municipal Corporation. Present at the event were MLA Bapusaheb Pathare, Pune Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, Additional Commissioner Prithviraj B.P., Omprakash Divate, COEP Tech University Vice Chancellor Sunil G. Bhirud, Head of Tata Technologies’ Skill Development Division Sushilkumar, and former Mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale.

Emphasis on Establishing Skill Centers Across the State

Pawar noted that there was a pressing need to modernize industrial training, especially in advanced areas like Artificial Intelligence. Through private participation, Tata Technologies Limited is helping establish skill centers in Chandrapur and Gadchiroli. For the Chandrapur Government Engineering College, Tata has contributed ₹240 crore and the state government ₹40 crore. For the center at Gondwana University in Gadchiroli, Tata has provided ₹145 crore while the state contributed ₹30 crore. Similar projects are ongoing in Kalyan-Dombivli, Ratnagiri, Pune, Shirdi, Beed, Nanded, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with full support from local administrations.

Boosting Industrial Growth in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad

Pawar further said that Pune is traditionally known for its educational and cultural significance. With the industrial growth around Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune has also emerged as a major industrial hub. The establishment of IT parks and industrial development has created a demand for skilled manpower. This demand is being met through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and engineering colleges in the region.

The Tata-operated skill development center in Baner will offer cutting-edge technical training to build an employable generation. It will include hands-on learning in areas like artificial intelligence, helping youth find employment aligned with their interests while also catering to the skilled labor demands of industries. This initiative will support the growth of a business-friendly environment in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

A Landmark Building to Add to Pune’s Prestige

Under this project, all equipment, industrial hardware, professional tools, software, and machinery will be handed over to the Pune Municipal Corporation. The Pre-Engineered Building (PEB) for the center is scheduled for completion by December 2025. The Deputy CM urged that the facility should be a landmark that adds to the prestige of Pune city, and that the entire project should be completed swiftly and with high quality. The state government will extend full support. He also called upon officials to work with dedication and requested the public’s cooperation in the ongoing development projects in the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas.

Skill Development Center to Train 7,000 Students Annually: Dr. Rajendra Bhosale

Pune Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale stated in his introductory remarks that the goal is to train around 7,000 students annually through the skill development center, which will also boost industrial productivity. The total project cost, including building and training expenses, is ₹279.67 crore—of which ₹237.72 crore will be contributed by Tata Technologies Limited and ₹41.95 crore by the Urban Development Department.

The Pune Municipal Corporation has allotted about one acre (3,605 sq. meters) of land for the project, on which a building of approximately 22,000 square feet will be constructed. The center will benefit thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, and youth, Dr. Bhosale said.