The terror attack on Pune has not come as a surprise, especially after the city featured prominently on David Headley?s terror-tourism itinerary. What makes Pune a high-profile target for terror strikes, though, is its prosperity in recent times.
Pune?s economic growth could not have been missed by those who masterminded these attacks. The city is, in fact, a poster child for the post-1991 growth story?be it the phenomenal growth in the city?s IT/BPO industry, massive investments in the automotive industry, expansion of the engineering industry, boom in real estate, hospitality and lastly the vast education infrastructure that attracts students from other parts of India and overseas.
Interestingly, Osho was the city?s first major global brand and was the reason the city featured on the international tourists? map for many years. But now the foreigners who come to Pune just to visit the Osho ashram is a small minority. There are far more foreign nationals in the rest of the city. And they can be found rubbing shoulders with people from all over India in Pune?s IT companies, BPOs, engineering firms, hotels and educational institutes.
Pune?s IT industry boom has seen exports go up from Rs 550 crore in 1998-99 to around Rs 20,000 crore currently and by end of 2010, 2.5 million people are slated to be employed here. Infosys will soon have more employees in Pune than in Bangalore. All the other big names?TCS, Wipro, Tech Mahindra?are here, too.
Similarly, the manufacturing industry has been expanding with industrial estates choked and the Pune-Western Maharashtra region accounting for around 30-40% of the state?s engineering exports and more than 50% of agro exports. Indeed, global auto majors have established themselves in Pune, as have Indian auto companies. But while the IT/BPO companies are well guarded and engineering companies have strong security?hotels had, in any case, increased security post 26/11?the German Bakery eatery was the softest target representing the cosmopolitan city Pune has become. But then the development juggernaut is on a roll in this city and the attack will in no way push Pune back.
geeta.nair@expressindia.com