Kothrud

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

Kothrud
Neighborhood
View of Kothrud
Panoramic view of Kothrud
Kothrud is located in Maharashtra
Kothrud
Kothrud
Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 18°32′00″N 73°51′05″E / 18.5333°N 73.8514°E / 18.5333; 73.8514
Country India
StateMaharashtra
DistrictPune
Government
 • BodyPune Municipal Corporation
DemonymKothrudkar
Languages
 • OfficialMarathi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
411038
Vehicle registrationMH-12
Lok Sabha constituencyPune
Vidhan Sabha constituencyKothrud

Kothrud (Kothrud Baug during the Maratha Empire era) is an upmarket residential suburb in the city of Pune. Once boasting the tag of Asia's fastest developing suburb, Kothrud of 2025 faces several challenges of urban planning, traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and to some extent, rising crime rates.[1]

The neighbourhood is located in the West-Central part of the city. During recent times, Kothrud has seen rapid expansion as well as development in commercial and residential real estate. Landmarks in Kothrud include the Mrutyunjayeshwar Temple dating to Peshwa times. This is also next to where Mastani once lived.[2]

Several prominent citizens of Pune who are active in Bollywood, Marathi cinema, media, cricket, and politics reside in Kothrud.

Economy

[edit]

Kothrud is a primarily residential suburb. Over the past decades many schools, colleges, hospitals, restaurants, cinemas, malls, theatres, health clubs, as well as business establishments have come to dot the area. Kothrud Industrial Estate is a prominent locality comprising many independent small and micro industries, industrial ancillary workshops and printing shops. Kothrud lies conveniently connected to IT establishments of Cognizant, Persistent Systems and Tech Mahindra.[3] Offices of information technology companies such as Harbinger Systems, Harbinger Knowledge Products and e-Zest Solutions are also located in Kothrud.[4] The registered office of Kirloskar Industries is located in Kothrud. A manufacturing facility of Cummins India Ltd located in the western part of the area for decades, is known by the name of Kothrud Engine Plant. Automotive Research Association of India or ARAI, is located atop Vetal Tekdi overlooking Kothrud on its southern slopes.[5] New age startups like StomatoBot Technologies, which automates CCTV Surveillance[6] for proactive mobile alerts in near real-time, using Computer Vision and Deep Learning,[7] have also appeared in Kothrud.

Apart from multiple local vegetable markets, State-organised weekly farmers' markets[8] and consumer-driven direct-from-farm initiates are held in Kothrud.[9]

The presence of many large educational institutions has meant a substantial student population and a proportionate housing, food and service economy. Throughout recent years, the single largest economic activity throughout this area has been the construction of residential buildings, mostly as redevelopment of older buildings leading to taller buildings and the urban issues owing to relentlessly increasing density.[10][11]

Geography

[edit]

Kothrud, one of the earliest and now largest suburbs of Pune, is bounded between Vetal Tekdi hills on the North and Karve Nagar and Mutha river on the South. Kothrud primarily consists of areas around Paud Road and Karve Road.[12] Paud Road begins at Paud Phata and leads to Paud Gaon via Chandani Chowk on the Katraj-Dehu Bypass on the Mumbai-Bengaluru NH4, which also forms the western boundary of Kothrud. Karve Road begins in Deccan and ends at Warje.

A few walking trails leading up to Vetal Tekdi originate at some places in Kothrud. The natural vegetation and man-made plantations on the hill lend the adjoining neighbourhoods a sense of calm, although the hill slopes and the forest cover have been steadily impacted due to the fast-paced growth and development in and around this area. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recently dropped plans to install the X-band Doppler Weather Radar for Pune district at the Vetal Tekdi citing operational difficulties and resistance from locals who perceived the project as a threat to the fragile ecosystem of the hills.[13] Kothrud enjoys the same generally mild and pleasant Pune weather with a slight advantage of the cooler westerly breeze reaching the city, and in some neighbourhoods, a hyperlocal advantage of proximity to the Vetal Tekdi or Mahatma Hill.

Groundwater is accessible throughout the year in most parts thanks largely to the underlying geology and the large unconfined aquifers[14] held in and recharged by the Vetal Tekdi hill complex.[15] As in every urban growth spot, the rising population density threatens the tree cover, open grounds that allow percolation of stormwater, and consequently the quality and sustainability of groundwater.

Population

[edit]

According to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) ward-wise population data based on 2011 census, the population recorded for all wards nested under Kothrud is 209,331.[16] There are no reliable pointers to estimate the population in 2025. An extrapolation using 2.45% growth rate yields an approximate number of 300,962.[citation needed] For reference, and in the absence of a formal census in 2021, the population of Pune Metropolitan Region is arrived at by The United Nations World Urbanisation Prospects as being 7,525,720 starting with a number of 580,848 in 1950, and a rate of growth of 2.45%.[17]

Localities

[edit]

The major localities in Kothrud include Anand Nagar, Bharti Nagar, Bhelke Nagar, Bhusari Colony, Chandani Chowk, Dahanukar Colony, Eklavya College, Ex-Servicemen's Colony, Gananjay Society, Gujarat Colony, Guruganesh Nagar, Happy Colony, Ideal Colony, Jaibhawaninagar, Jijainagar, Karve Putala, Kishkindha Nagar, Lokmanya Colony, Madhav Baug, Mahatma Society, Mayur Colony, Paschimanagari, Rahul Nagar, Rambaug Colony, Shastrinagar, Shikshaknagar, Shivaji Putala, Shivteerth Nagar, Thorat Baug, Tejasnagar, Vanaz, Sutardara, and pockets of informal settlements across the entire neighbourhood.

Transport

[edit]

Pune Metro

[edit]
Entrance of Ideal Colony metro station, Kothrud
Kothrud bus stand

The Pune Metro Aqua Line is the first Metro line to start in Pune. Three metro stations on the Aqua (Vanaz to Ramwadi) Line, viz. Vanaz, Ideal Colony and Anand Nagar serve Kothrud since March 2022, connecting the suburb with the rest of the city.[18]

Road and Bus

[edit]

Kothrud is connected by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited and operates two main bus depots: Kothrud Depot and Kothrud Stand. Buses connect Kothrud to other parts of Pune like Nigdi, Hadapsar, Swargate, Chakan, and villages mostly to the West and South of Pune city, such as Khed-Shivapur, Panshet and Pirangut. Direct buses to the Wipro Circle in Hinjawadi IT hub ply the 33 Km route only in the morning and evening hours.[19] A recently set up Kumbare Park (also called Kumbre Park) terminus on D.P. Road operates PMPML buses to major parts of Pune city like Market Yard, Pune Station, Vadgaosheri and Sainathnagar.[20]

Many private and MSRTC intercity buses from and to Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Alibaug halt at Vanaz Corner in Kothrud to drop and pick-up passengers.

Karve Road connects Kothrud to the heart of city, while Paud Road connects it to the outskirts of city.

Cycling, Pedestrian or Non-motorised Transport

[edit]

Pune was once known as the bicycle city of Maharashtra and has historically had a high bicycling modal share of 35% in the 1980s. This dwindled to just 13% in 2003.[21] Likewise in Kothrud, cyclists are a rare sight, while dedicated cycle tracks and decent footpaths persist as a topic on the wish-list.

Education

[edit]
MIT World Peace University is a private university in Kothrud.

Kothrud is known for many educational institutions that draw students in from across the Indian subcontinent, as well as from countries in Asia and Africa. The large student population is an integral part of the economy and culture.[1] Prominent institutions include:

Middle Schools and High Schools

[edit]

Engineering Colleges

[edit]

Management Institutes

[edit]
Law Colleges
[edit]

P. Jog Law College

Museums

[edit]
  • Joshi's Museum of Miniature Railways houses a remarkable collection of miniature trains, locomotives and model railways from different eras and regions around the world. The museum consists of a working model of an entire city. The exhibits chronicle the evolution of railway technology, from the earliest steam engines to the modern high-speed train.
  • Vikram Pendse Cycle Museum has over 150 bicycles, the oldest of which is from 1916. This private collection has many other bicycle related artefacts, tools, toys, and motorbikes.[22]

Fire Brigade

[edit]

The Kothrud Fire Brigade of Pune Municipal Corporation is stationed at S. No. 2/1, Near Kothrud Stand on Karve Road.[23]

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Shekar, Aditi (26 March 2025). "liveability-declines-in-punes-kothrud-one-of-asias-fastest-developing-suburbs". The Times Of India. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Gera Pune Realty Report (JAN – JUNE' 14) Revises Price Increase Expectation for 2014 to be in the Region of 10% to 14% | Free Press Journal". www.freepressjournal.in. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  3. ^ "How Kothrud in Pune is developing as a residential locality". Moneycontrol. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  4. ^ "How Kothrud in Pune is developing as a residential locality". Moneycontrol. 14 October 2013.
  5. ^ Automotive Research Association of India
  6. ^ "With an AI leg-up, machine eyes count vehicles one at a time — missing none | FactorDaily". FactorDaily. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  7. ^ StomatoBot is one of the TECH 30 Startups - 2017 - YourStory's pick of the top 30 technology startups from India, retrieved 25 June 2018
  8. ^ Dastane, Sarang (26 October 2014). "Kothrud Farmers Market A Success - City Set To Get More". The Times Of India.
  9. ^ "Kothrud socs tie up with farmers for fresh veggies at their premises". Pune Mirror. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  10. ^ Bhagat, Indu (9 May 2025). "Pune: PMC To Address Kothrud's Traffic Woes With 33 Missing Link Roads". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  11. ^ "chandrakant-patil-reviews-kothrud-s-road-and-traffic-issues". Hindustan Times. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  12. ^ Bhalerao, Sai. "Kothrud". Maps of India ./. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  13. ^ Vajpeyee, Gayatri (17 January 2025). "Radar project site: After dropping Vetal Hill, IMD finalises Durga Hill in Pimpri-Chinchwad".
  14. ^ Kulkarni, Dr Himanshu; Bhagwat, Manoj (25 October 2019). "Mapping Pune's Aquifers". India Water Portal.
  15. ^ Kulkarni, Dr Himanshu; Bhagwat, Manoj; Kale, Vivek; Aslekar, Uma. "PUNE'S AQUIFERS Some Early Insights From A Strategic Hydrogeological Appraisal". Researchgate.net.
  16. ^ "Pune Datastore". Pune Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  17. ^ "World Population Review". World Population Review. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  18. ^ "First sections of Pune metro inaugurated". 7 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Hinjewadi IT professionals won't miss the bus any more". Mid-Day. 5 February 2014.
  20. ^ "Pune City Bus". "Pune City Bus" website by PMPML.
  21. ^ Arora, Arora (2013). "Non-Motorized Urban Transport, Pune City" (PDF). UN Habitat: 3.
  22. ^ "Vikram Pendse Cycle Museum". Sahapedia. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  23. ^ "PMC Fire Brigade Stations". Pune Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 8 September 2025.