A Peek At Pune’s Historical Milestones

Pune is a city with a rich historical and cultural background. Today, it is an educational and IT hub.

Called as the ‘Oxford of the East’, it offers some of the best educational institutions in the world. It has also grown into a major industrial hub.

Its cosmopolitan nature and pleasant climate has proved a major draw for people from around the country.

We turn back the clock to take a peek at Pune’s history and how it developed into a great city.

Here are some important milestones :

1761 – Lakdi Pul 

The Sambhaji Bridge is the oldest bridge in Pune. This bridge was first built in 1761 out of wood, which is why it is known as Lakdi Pul.

Although destroyed twice by floods, it was rebuilt in 1840 by the British into a stronger stone bridge, and after the 1961 Panshet floods, it was again rebuilt and repaired by the Indian Army in just eight days.

1818 – British East India Company

In 1818, Pune and the rest of the Peshwa territories came under the control of the British East India Company. The company rule came to an end when in 1858, under the terms of the Proclamation issued by Queen Victoria. The Bombay Presidency, along with Pune and the rest of British India, came under the direct rule of the British crown.

1818 – Sangam Bridge

When the British gained control of Poona, as Pune was known then, they built the Wellesley Bridge, in 1818. The Wellesley Bridge was named after Arthur Wellesley, one of the British officials of the East India Company. It was strengthened in 1840 and completely rebuilt in 1876 to make it look like its present day structure.

During the Panshet floods in 1961, the bridge was damaged and then repaired later. The Sangam Bridge is the busiest bridge in Pune, which links COEP to Sangamwadi.

1821 – Deccan College

Deccan College was established on October 6, 1821, as Hindoo College. It is one of the oldest institutions of modern learning in India. It was started under Mountstuart Elphinstone (Lt Governor of Bombay Presidency), with funds diverted from the erstwhile Peshwa’s Dakshina Fund. It was later disbursed by Sardar Khanderao Dabhade after the Territories of the Peshwa were annexed in 1818. It was also known as the Poona Sanskrit College.

1856 – Pune Railway Station

The Mumbai to Pune railway line was completed in 1856 and the Pune railway station was opened. This was the time when the first train ran from Pune Railway Station.

The first express train ran between Mumbai to Pune in 1928.

1858 – Poona Municipality (PMC)

The Poona Municipality was established in 1858. The cantonment area had its own separate administration from the beginning and is governed separately even today. The first elections for the Municipality were held in 1883.

After the independence Poona Municipality converted into Pune Municipal Corporation which is established on February 15, 1950.

1867 – Sasoon Hospital

The Jewish philanthropist David Sassoon from Mumbai made a generous donation to launch the construction of the Sassoon Hospital in 1867.
This is a large state-run hospital in Pune with over 1,500 beds.The B. J. Medical College, Pune, and a Nurses Training School is attached to it.

1879 – Khadakwasla Dam

The Khadakwasla Dam is one of the oldest masonry dams of India and work on it began in 1869 and was completed in 1879. The Khadakwasla Dam is 1.6 km (1.0 mi) long.

The dam has been built on the Mutha River. It was designed by the Bharat Ratna Mokshagundam Vishveshwarya.

1885 – Fergusson College

Fergusson College was established in 1885. The college was named after the then Governor of Bombay. The original land for Fergusson College was acquired from the Shiroles (who owned large tracts of land in Bhamburda).
Lokmanya Tilak, Chiplunkar, Agarkar were amongst the people who took the lead in setting up the college. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was also actively involved in DES (Deccan Education Society).

1949 – University of Pune

Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), formerly University of Pune or University of Poona was founded in February 10, 1949. Its location has historical significance. Some incidents of the Battle of Khirkee, during the Third Anglo-Maratha War, took place where the present-day university is located. The present day main building was built in 1864 and was known as the Governor’s House.

1998 – Kothrud Flyover Bridge

Pune’s first flyover is inaugurated at Dashabhuja Ganapati Chowk, Kothrud, on 1998.

The flyover known as Swatantryaveer Savarkar Flyover.

1999 – Hinjewadi IT Park

In 1999, the five-hundred-acre Software Development Park developed by Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) was inaugurated near Hinjewadi on the Pune-Mumbai Bypass.