Newly elected BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni to oppose proposed ‘monorail’ in Pune’s Thorat Garden

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has planned to undertake the construction of a monorail-type toy train in Thorat Garden, reportedly on the insistence of former city mayor and BJP leader Murlidhar Mohol, who is also an aspirant for the party ticket for Pune Lok Sabha constituency in the forthcoming election.

The Rs 5 crore project will include an elevated toy train with a track of around 400 metres and four stations in the garden which will be constructed on 70 pillars. The residents have been opposing the project saying that the concrete structures would harm the garden environment and reduce the area for the public.

Kulkarni had earlier extended her support to citizens and environmentalists opposing a proposed link road from Balbharti to Paud Road cutting across Vetal Tekdi despite being pushed by BJP leaders, including state minister Chandrakant Patil, who is the legislator of Kothrud Assembly seat and was preferred as party candidate in 2019 elections.

“I will continue to support citizens on the issue as I have been opposing the damage to the environment of the city by destroying the hills. I am also against other proposed roads passing through the hills of the city,” Kulkarni said, asserting that her stand has not changed even if she has been elected to Rajya Sabha.

Kulkarni said she was a committed citizen born and brought up in Pune and would not allow any damage to the environment and the larger interest of citizens. “It is clear that I will continue to fight for the interest of citizens and raise issues in Rajya Sabha. I have been given the opportunity by my party to serve the public and I will do so with devotion,” she said.

Kulkarni said she will also focus on issues of children, women, youth and elderly in Rajya Sabha along with issues related to the environment and education sectors. “I am a professional teacher and I feel that the teaching staff should not be entrusted with non-teaching work like election duty, census or survey. I understand the suffering of students if the teacher is deputed for non-teaching work. The loss of students is irreparable even after taking extra classes,” Kulkarni added.

When pointed out that the retiring Rajya Sabha MP Vandana Chavan has high hopes that she will take up issues of serious concern, Kulkarni said, “We might be from different political parties but have common concerns related to the public and environment. Chavan has done good work in her 12 years as Rajya Sabha MP and I too would be giving my best on various issues.”