On track: Cabinet clears proposal for Metro rail
Project had been awaiting govt approval since 2010
3 min read
Project had been awaiting govt approval since 2010
At long last,the state cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to the Metro rail project for Pune to meet the demand for an efficient public transport in a fast growing city.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had approved the proposal for Metro rail in 2010 after detailed discussion on the plan prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). Thereafter,the project was awaiting state government approval.
However,environmentalists and political parties had started demanding an underground Metro rail instead of the elevated one as proposed by the DMRC.
The NCP,which had announced during the recent election that it would favour underground Metro rail,later decided to support the DMRC proposal. The party said underground Metro for Pune was not feasible and would increase the cost of project three-fold.
The proposal for execution of the project for 14.925 km corridor from Vanaz to Ramwadi and Chandannagar was tabled in the state Cabinet on Wednesday and passed. It will have 15 stations and pass through the existing Development Plan road network,without requiring extensive land acquisition.
Of the six routes proposed,the Vanaz-Ramwadi stretch will be taken up first. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 2,593 crore. The state and Union governments are supposed to bear Rs 519 crore each (20 per cent),while the PMC will pay the 10 per cent (Rs 259 crore). The remaining 50 per cent (Rs 1,296 crore) would be raised from other sources. The ticket cost is estimated to be Rs 7 to Rs 24.
Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development Department) T C Benjamin had recently reviewed the Metro corridor for Pune city. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has assured that there will be no shortage of funds for the project.
Benjamin said,The route from Kothrud to Ramwadi will be elevated. The route will start from Vanaz and pass through Paud Road,Karve Road,Deccan,J M Road,Pune Court,Mangalwar Peth,Railway Station,Ruby Hall,Bund Garden Road,Yerawada,Nagar Road,Kalyaninagar and Ramwadi. There will be a proposed extension to chandan nagar of 3.7 km and also a connectivity to Pune airport.
There will be a special purpose vehicle in the name of Pune Metro Rail Corporation,he said adding that a loan would be sought from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The state said the project should be ready in next five years. However,the plan would be to mobilise resources and raise funds as well as sign memorandum of understanding with the Centre to get the work on first route completed in three years. The state cabinet also gave in principle approval to Metro rail project for Nagpur city.
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