Kothrud (Kothrud Baug during the Maratha Empire era) is an upmarket residential neighborhood in the city of Pune.
The neighborhood is located in the West-Central region 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 Mrityunjaya Temple dating to Peshwa times. This was also the residence of Mastani.[1]
Kothrud primarily consists of areas around Paud Road and Karve Road.[2] Paud Road begins at Paud Phata and leads to Paud through Chandni Chowk (on Katraj-Dehu Bypass). Karve Road begins in Deccan and ends at Warje. Kothrud is one of the largest areas of Pune, and its forest cover has been deeply impacted due to the fast-paced growth and development of this area.
Population
The population is estimated to be around 250,000.[citation needed] The major localities in Kothrud are Anand Nagar, Rambaug, Ideal, Wanaz, Chandani Chowk,Area near Karve statue, near Shivaji statue, Thorat baug, Tejasnagar, Dahanukar Colony, Gananjay, Gujrath colony, Bharti Nagar, Sutardara and Jaybhawaninagar; the last two are slum areas.
Economy
Kothrud is home to numerous information technology companies such as Harbinger Systems, Harbinger Knowledge Products and e-Zest Solutions.[3] Kothrud is home to a minor manufacturing facility by Kirloskar Group and the Automotive Research Association of India.[4] Many new age startups like StomatoBot Technologies, which automates CCTV Surveillance[5] for proactive mobile alerts in near real-time, using Computer Vision and Deep Learning,[6] have also appeared in Kothrud.
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 near Pune in Khed-Shivapur. A new terminus "Kumbre Park", located on D.P. Road has also started operating PMPML buses to major parts of Pune City. Pune Metro will also go through it, which is expected to be completed by late 2021. Karve Road connects Kothrud to the heart of city, while Paud Road connects it to the outskirts of city.
Kothrud is known for its educational institutions. It draws students in from across the Indian subcontinent, as well as from Asia and Africa. The large student population is an integral part of the economy and culture.[1] Institutions include: