Implement metro plan on own: BJP corporators to civic body

After the meeting,standing committee chairman Arvind Shide had made it clear that it had been decided that instead of appointing any agency,the PMC would implement the metro project in the city.

“The BJP has always supported the idea of forming up an SPV to carry out a huge project like this. So there was no question of opposing it now. Our supplementary proposal was about a different issue. Since the metro route cuts through many residential areas,a number of structures would be affected. Therefore,before the actual implementation,we want the civic body to do the micro planning of those areas,” Tilak said.

Deshpande said the misinterpretation has happened due to the improper and ambiguous words in the supplementary proposal. The BJP corporators pointed out that the civic administration had tabled the metro rail proposal in a hurry saying that an early clearance will get attention in the Union and the State budget. “However,neither the central nor the state governments made allocations to this effect,” they said.

Mathkari also expressed objections to Commissioner Mahesh Zagade’s sudden proposal to stretch the metro route on the patch between Lohegaon and Kharadi.

When contacted,Zagade asked,“What is there to comment on something that the standing committee has already approved?”

Activist Vijay Kumbhar said,“Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic bodies should implement such projects separately. Unless they come together to implement it,the project would remain half-implemented and ultimately people would suffer.”

With or without PMC

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation said it has decided to go ahead with the implementation of the three routes of the metro rail.

“The PMC has declared that it was implementing the metro rail project in its area on its own. We too are ready to implement the plan in our jurisdiction. If the PMC is willing to cooperate,we will accept it. If they don’t want to share with us,so be it,” Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor Yogesh Behl told The Indian Express on Wednesday.

Commissioner Asheesh Sharma said they have received the consultant’s report and the administration would soon decide on the route to be taken up first. “The report has given us cost structuring. For the six-and-a-half km route from Dapodi to PCMC headquarters,the cost comes to about Rs 1000 crore,” he said.

Sharma said since Dapodi-PCMC headquarters route has better connectivity,they might take up some other route in the first phase.