<p>Pune is the second largest city in Maharashtra. It covers a land area of 331.26 sq km housing 6.99 million people. It is an important city in terms of economic and industrial hubs. The place has a rich heritage dating back to the times of the Maratha Empire in the 17th century. Once popularly known as the “Queen of the Deccan,” Pune has always been the cultural capital of the Marathas. After being captured by the Mughal Empire, the city served as the official Maratha capital from 1714 until its fall to the British in 1817.</p><p><br>Pune used to be the periodic capital of the Bombay Presidency and is presently a popular tourist destination, extending historic and religious monuments, cool weather, museums, hotels, cultural attractions, and parks. Pune has long been a significant educational and cultural hub. In the words of the former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Pune is the “Oxford and Cambridge of India.” The city makes room for almost 30 constituent and affiliated colleges under the University of Pune (1948); the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (1917) is well-known for instruction and research in the Prakrit and Sanskrit languages and has over 20,000 ancient documents. Pune also represents the headquarters of the southern command of the Indian army, with the Khadakwasla Academy located in close proximity.</p><p><br>A straggling complex of industrial suburbs has gradually evolved around the city. Large manufacturing plants producing a remarkable variety of goods are distributed along the roads diverging from Pune to Mumbai (Bombay), Solapur, Satara, and Ahmednagar. The old part of Pune is significantly commercial as well as residential and is served by large-scale commuter transportation. In 1961, as the mishap of the Panshet Dam collapse took place, it washed away a substantial region of the old town.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The area surrounding Pune comprises the Balaghat Range (north), the Mahadeo Hills (south), and the Sahyadri Hills, which encircles the northern Bhima River valley. The chief crops grown in Pune include bajra (pearl millet), jowar (grain sorghum), rice, and sugarcane. Some of the key historical, religious, and tourist attractions of the city are situated in the Sahyadri Hills in addition to the well-known hill forts of the Marathas, such as Sinhgad, which have now been converted into resorts.</p><p><br>Pune is among the 109 cities qualified for India’s Smart Cities Mission, and the region has been allocated an approximate sum of US$5.2 billion towards its smart city development plan. Pune's main priorities include improving urban mobility, providing access to water, enhancing citizen outreach efforts, and improving infrastructure in housing, energy, security, and safety. According to the Smart Cities report card by India’s Urban Development Ministry, Pune is the 8th fastest city in applying and executing its Smart City plan.</p><p><br>The city has witnessed notable economic growth in recent years with the automobile, manufacturing, and IT industries emerging rapidly in various parts of the city. The city is identified as the seventh-largest metropolitan economy with a robust industrial foundation. Pune has the 6th highest per capita income in the country. The engineering, automobile, and manufacturing sectors have experienced significant foreign investments over recent years. The region is also a prominent hub for IT and software services. Pune’s large number of industrial training institutes and tertiary institutions have given rise to a set of skilled workforce to support the city’s financial development. The metropolis represents one of the leading hubs for IT and education in India. Coworking Spaces in Pune are growing as occupier preferences have moved towards managed and flexible workspaces. It is the abode for several automobile manufacturers and dealers as well. The city has embraced Pune coworking spaces with the spiking number of founders and entrepreneurs entering the region with their office establishments.&nbsp;</p>