Ajit Pawar holds review meeting, directs officials to quickly start redevelopment work of Pune’s Shivajinagar Bus Depot

Currently, the bus depot operates from Wakdewadi, where passengers frequently complain about poor conditions, especially during the rainy season.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar announces the redevelopment of the New Chhatrapati Shivaji Nagar Bus Depot in Pune.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is also the Guardian Minister of Pune, Wednesday directed officials to start the redevelopment work of the New Integrated Chhatrapati Shivaji Nagar Bus Depot without any delay.

During a review meeting held with Pune officials, Pawar announced that the project would be based on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

He urged the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro) to work in coordination and expedite the completion of the project. He also directed the officials concerned to urgently submit a proposal for a 99-year agreement to the cabinet to attract reliable developers for the project.

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“The redevelopment plan includes the construction of a commercial complex, two basements for parking, and a semi-basement for retail outlets. While the bus stop will be on the ground floor, the terminal is planned to operate from the second floor. Additionally, a 16-storey structure for both public and private offices will be part of the project,” a source said.

In 2019, MSRTC allotted the land to Maha-Metro for the construction of the Shivajinagar underground metro station. As per the agreement, Maha-Metro is responsible for facilitating the construction of a new Shivaji Nagar depot along with other infrastructure. The project is estimated to cost between Rs 250 crore and Rs 300 crore.

Currently, the bus depot operates from Wakdewadi, where passengers frequently complain about poor conditions, especially during the rainy season. Many passengers have been demanding that the depot be relocated to its original site in Shivaji Nagar.

In August last year, Shivaji Nagar MLA Siddharth Shirole claimed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed between Maha-Metro and MSRTC. However, seven months have passed, and the MoU is yet to be signed.

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Besides the Shivajinagar bus depot, the meeting also included directives to complete the redevelopment of the Swargate bus stand.

Shubham Tigga

Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More

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