STPI's EV centre of excellence: Good news in two months or another wait?

Raj Patil

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Three years of follow-ups, multiple representations to state and central government, and one formal announcement yet the city's proposed STPI Centre of Excellence (CoE) remains on paper.

Software technology park of India (STPI) officials indicated good news on the EV CoE would come within two months, but city industrialists and stakeholders remain in the dark. The CoE was formally announced in January 2025 by joint secretary Sanket Bhondve MeitY, Government of India, in the presence of STPI Maharashtra director Ajay Shrivastava. Since then, not a single concrete update has reached city industrialists or associations. Despite 30 years of STPI's presence, no IT Park or CoE has been created by MIDC. The last significant development was the STPI conference where Chamber of Marathwada Industry and Agriculture (CMIA), Marathwada Accelerator for Growth and Incubation Council (Magic), and Marathwada Association of Small Scale Industries and Agriculture (Massia) signed MoUs with STPI for extending support of STPI. With all eyes on July-end, the city waits once again for action to match the announcement.

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CoE: A delayed promise, industry still in the dark

Since late 2023, city entrepreneurs have been pushing for an STPI CoE to support the city's growing startup and IT ecosystem. Despite formal announcements and repeated representations, no concrete steps have followed. Months after the January 2025 announcement, industrial associations have yet to receive a single official communication and learned of the development only when Lokmat Times reached out. "We came to know about it only after you approached us," said members of city industrial bodies.

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EV CoE to accelerate city's EV vision

The CoE proposed by STPI is set to strengthen Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar's EV ecosystem as the city emerges as India's EV capital. The CoE will operate within STPI's existing land and infrastructure, requiring no additional land for execution.

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Three years, no breakthrough

"We have consistently followed up on the STPI Centre of Excellence proposal for nearly three years. MAGIC, along with CMIA, has put in sustained efforts to push this initiative forward. Since 2024, industrialists, associations and stakeholders have repeatedly raised the demand, yet there has been no concrete fulfilment so far."

-Ashish Garde, Director, MAGIC

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Positive signal on CoE

"STPI is expected to share good news for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar regarding the CoE," said a senior official on condition of anonymity.

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IT push essential

"This is encouraging, particularly if STPI announces positive news on the CoE. However, the priority must be the development of the IT industry, which remains weak in the city. We had sought concrete steps three years ago to retain young talent, but little progress has been made so far."

- Pratap Dhopte, Chief Executive Officer, Excelize AI

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Industry push for STPI CoE

• In 2024, then district collector Deelip Swami submitted a proposal to then STPI director Arvind Kumar for a CoE to strengthen the city's IT ecosystem.

• The same year, then CMIA President Dushyant Patil urged then STPI Director Sanjay Gupta to establish the CoE to drive technology-led growth.

• MAGIC director Ashish Garde sought expansion and fresh initiatives from STPI director Ajay Shrivastava, stressing stronger infrastructure support.

• In January 2025, Sanket Bhondve, Joint Secretary, MeitY, officially reviewed STPI operations and announced the city would receive an STPI CoE, in the presence of STPI Maharashtra Director Ajay Shrivastava.