Mumbai, Aug 2026 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed officials of the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) to find a practical solution for the proposed GIS substation at Bhongawali in Pune’s Bhor taluka, ensuring that local residents, particularly farmers, suffer minimum losses.
A meeting on the proposed Bhongawali GIS substation was held at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Fadnavis. During the meeting, he instructed officials to examine feasible alternatives after considering the location of the substation, alignment of transmission lines and the anticipated increase in electricity demand in the future.
Fadnavis said a local committee had raised concerns that farmers in Bhor had already lost land for various development projects and were now being asked to part with additional land for the proposed power project. He said the government had taken note of the concerns and would work towards resolving the issue through discussions with the affected residents.
The Chief Minister pointed out that nearly 40 per cent of the project work had already been completed. He stressed that Pune, being a major industrial district, is witnessing a substantial rise in electricity demand. Failure to establish the required substations could lead to serious power shortages in the future, he said.
Several substation projects are also being undertaken in other talukas of Pune district. However, Fadnavis said the government understood the difficulties being faced by residents of Bhor and would seek an appropriate solution without compromising the broader development requirements of the region.
Since the project falls under the jurisdiction of the Central government, discussions will also be held with officials from MSETCL and the Central government before taking further decisions. The Chief Minister directed officials to examine how the project could be implemented while causing the least possible damage to local residents and making optimum use of the available land.
The government will also consider ways to address residents’ concerns regarding the alignment of transmission lines and future expansion of the electricity network.
Fadnavis said the Green Energy Corridor was important for meeting Maharashtra’s growing energy requirements and supporting future development. He cautioned that opposition to the project could have implications for Pune’s development and urged local residents to cooperate while efforts are made to arrive at a solution that balances development needs with the interests of affected communities.
The proposed transmission line and GIS substation are part of the renewable-energy Green Corridor being developed through the Central government. The project is intended to strengthen the electricity transmission network and facilitate the integration of renewable energy into the grid.
The meeting was attended by MP Supriya Sule, MSETCL Chairman and Managing Director Vikram Kumar, MLA Shankar Mandekar and Sangram Thorat, president of the Bhor-Rajgad Substation and Tower Line Removal Struggle Committee. Local residents and officials from Adani Power were also present.
Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi participated in the meeting through video conference.
