Dehu Road

Dehu Road Cantt, is a military cantonment in the city of Pune, India, which was established in October 1958. The Dehu Ordnance Depot and Dehu Ammunition Depot was set up in the 1940s. The Dehu Road Cantonment Board was established in 1958 and is an autonomous body controlled by the Ministry of Defence. It is divided into seven wards in seven villages which include civil and military population. At the 2011 census, the population of Dehuroad Cantonment was 48,961 including the military population. Elections to the cantonment boards are held in line with the directions of the Ministry of Defence and the Cantonments Electoral Rules 2007 and not the directions of the Election Commission of Central or State Government.

It is located in the hills of the Sahyadris, west of Pune city. The holy river Indrayani passes through its limits. Dehu Road lies 9 km northwest of Chinchwad and 27 km northwest of Pune Central along the NH4 Old Pune Mumbai Express Highway that connects it to Pune Central via Chinchwad. Dehu Road lies at an altitude of over , between two southeasterly flowing tributaries of the Bhima river, the Indrayani river to the north and the Pavana river to the south. The elevation keeps the climate pleasant. It is surrounded by small towns including Dehuroad Marketyard, Poter Chawl, Parsi Chawl, Vikas Nagar, Mamurdi, Ravet, Adarsh Nagar, Bapdev Nagar, Chincholi, Indrayani Darshan, Kiwale, Sankalp Nagar, Indraprabhapur, Sai Nagar, Gahunje, Barlota Nagar, Dutt Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Alkapuri, Ordnance Factory Staff Quarters, KV School Quarters, Garden City, Gandhi Nagar, Mehta Park, Sarvatra Nagar, Thomas Colony, Shitla Nagar, Sankalp Nagari, Uttam Nagar, Srinagar, Mountbatan (MB) Camp, Kinhai, Zendemala, Siddharth Nagar, and Shelarwadi. The Vikas Nagar area is one of the densest and fastest developing areas of the town. Vikas nagar houses one of the most prestigious and oldest housing societies of Dehu road called 'Indraprabha Housing Society' which is home to many young future prodiges.

As Dehu Road is a cantonment town, it hosts offices of Central Government departments, especially Military and Defence. Dehu Road is close to IT parks such as Pune Hinjawadi, Talawade as well as ICC Trade Tower, and is 8 km from the Talegaon industrial zone where manufacturing industries including Ordnance Factory Dehu Road of the Ordnance Factories Board. Volkswagen, General Motors, Mercedes Benz, BMW, JCB, Tetrapack, INA Bearings and others. are present.

Dehu Road can be reached from Pune by road or suburban rail. Newly constructed Flyover in Dehuroad offers convenience for travelling to Pimpri Chinchwad city.

The station has 4 platforms and 6 lines with a connecting footbridge. The Mumbai CST Kolhapur Sahyadri Express, Mumbai CST Bijapur Passenger, Mumbai CST Pandharpur Passenger, Mumbai CST Shirdi Passenger and Pune Junction Karjat Shuttle halt there. This station is a halt for all the Suburban trains of Pune.

The population includes people from various states of India (mostly South Indian States). At the 2011 Census, Dehu Road had a population of 48,961. Males constituted 53% of the population and females 47%. Dehu Road had an average literacy rate of 90.96%, higher than the national average of 74.04: male literacy was 94.80% and female literacy was 86.63%, and 11.64% of the population was under 6 years of age.

New developments include Sonigara Pearl, Celestial City, Shagun, Indra Prabha. Dehu road is becoming a popular location due to its proximity to Hinjewadi, Talegaon, Pimpri Chinchwad and Chakan Industrial areas, as well Mumbai Pune expressway. Once the Nigdi Dehu road expansion is completed Dehu Road to Pune city driving time was expected to require only 25 minutes. Upcoming real estate residential projects near Dehu Road are Oxford Bavdhan by Shapoorji Pallonji and Joyville Hadapsar in Pune.

Dehu Road Bazaar, Murugan Temple and Subramanhya Swamy Murugan are located there. The Ayyappa temple on Sasta Hills is the biggest Ayyappa temple in Maharashtra. Maruti Mandir was established by Saint/Sant Ramdas. Thai Poosam and Makara Jyoti festival are popular events at the Ayyappa temple. The Samadhi (cremation) of the Marathi Saint Tukaram who wrote many poems on Lord Pandharinath (Vitthal). Three Masjid and one Idgah and Idgah Masjid are present, of which Jama Masjid is the largest and oldest. Three churches are present, of which Church Mary & Emmanuel Assemblies of God Church is the oldest. Three gurudwaras are located in Dehu Road. Jee Ayanu Gurudwara is near the Market area, Indrayani Darshan is on the Old Mumbai Pune Highway and Garden City Gurudwara is in Garden City. Vaishya Samaj mandir, Jain mandir and Shani mandir are situated at the main market. A Buddhist vihar is situated nearby. The idol in the vihar is kept by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Durga Tekdi (a hill viewpoint and picnic spot) is 3 km southeast of Dehu Road. Appu Ghar amusement park is nearby.

Dehu Road has many schools. One of the oldest and most prominent English medium schools is St Jude High School, earlier known as Garrison High School. Kendriya Vidyalaya is one of the oldest KVs in India. Shri Shivaji Vidayala, is the oldest Marathi medium school. Samson Memorial Republic School (English medium) is the oldest school in the region. It was established in 1949 by Rev K. K. Samson and by Sara Violet Samson. The school offers education to lower income students. An Army Public School near Ashok Nagar comes under the army COD region. These schools have students from 10–15 small towns in the vicinity of Dehu Road. St. Joseph's Bethany Convent School is another Catholic school.

A new international standard cricket stadium called Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium at Dehu Road in Gahunje has hosted IPL matches.