Civic body approves Metro proposal

The general body of Pune Municipal Corporation passed the Metro rail proposal late on Wednesday evening,despite a walkout by Shiv Sena corporators over refusal to incorporate their demands and a meek opposition from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

The general body of Pune Municipal Corporation passed the Metro rail proposal late on Wednesday evening,despite a walkout by Shiv Sena corporators over refusal to incorporate their demands and a meek opposition from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal announced that the foundation of the Metro rail will be laid on December 12,the birthday of NCP leader Sharad Pawar.

The general body approved only three out of 19 suggestions put forth by corporators. The approved suggestions include a mono rail to be implemented in the city on Design,Build,Operate,Own and Transfer (DBOOT) basis along with the Metro; Metro proposal to be incorporated in the citys development plan; and that local political leaders should push the project at the government level.

Earlier,the meeting witnessed a ruckus,with some Sena corporators walking out with the mayoral mace. When a suggestion put forth by Sena corporators Raja Balkawade and Ankush Tidke of not using the land in Kothrud for Metro station and reserving it for a Shivaji memorial was voted out,corporators belonging to saffron parties rushed towards the Mayor to stage their protest. A few of them took the mayoral mace and walked out,but the discussion continued and soon the mace was brought back.

Sena MLAs Chandrakant Mokate and Mahadeo Babars suggestion of having an underground Metro in the Wanaj-Bund Garden stretch was also rejected; with the corporators finally walking out of the meeting.

The PMC will now have to bear 10 per cent of the cost. The general body also gave powers to Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade to appoint an expert for the execution of project.

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