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Due to the growing demand for vehicle parking from commuters using the Pune Metro, the Pune civic body has identified 20 locations for parking. These include seven on J M Road, five on Nagar Road, and three on Karve Road.
However, instead of meeting the Pune Metro’s request for the land, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) plans to develop these parking areas independently. This approach will allow them to maintain ownership of the land and generate a revenue source for the civic body.
The Pune Metro currently operates two lines: from Pimpri Chinchwad to Swargate and from Vanaz to Ramwadi, with extensions of both routes underway. However, the lack of vehicle parking has been causing inconvenience for commuters, making last-mile connectivity difficult. Very few metro stations offer parking facilities, and even those that do have insufficient space.
The feeder service, operated by PMPML through public transport buses, has not been implemented, leading to commuters parking their vehicles on the roadside and contributing to traffic congestion on the roads. The commuters parking illegally on roads are penalised. Thus, the Pune metro has been seeking land to develop parking infrastructure near the metro station for the convenience of citizens.
“There are many citizens who want to commute via metro rail to avoid loss of time in traffic jams. However, the lack of parking facilities is keeping them away from using the metro service as they find it inconvenient to travel from home to the metro station in the absence of a feeder service and insufficient parking for vehicles near the station,” said a Pune Metro officer.
If parking facilities for private vehicles are not provided soon, commuters who have begun using the metro service are likely to return to private vehicles, he said. There is a need for more parking options to attract additional commuters to the Pune metro rail and to help reduce traffic congestion on the city roads, he added.
“The PMC administration has identified 20 land parcels that can be developed for vehicle parking near metro stations. This will be for the convenience of commuters. The Pune metro has been demanding land for developing a parking facility, but the civic administration is exploring the possibility of developing it on its own,” said Dinkar Gojare, chief engineer of the PMC.
The civic body has to acquire land or hand over its land for the parking facility to Pune Metro, he said, “If the PMC develops the parking facility, then it will continue to hold ownership of land and the infrastructure. It will also be a regular source of income for the civic body. This plan is under consideration.”
The civic body is undertaking the same initiative for Line 3, from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar, which is scheduled to be operational by March next year. This development is planned for the first two metro lines, according to a civic officer.
Civic activist Qaneez Sukhrani said the PMC decision to make available land for vehicle parking near metro stations will provide much relief to existing traffic congestion, especially on Nagar Road.
She said that residents of Nagar Road, including herself, had raised the issue in the Bombay High Court, and five such parking bays are likely to be constructed in the Nagar Road area.
“Even though such a long delay has resulted in habitual illegal parking of vehicles on footpaths and illegal waiting of auto and cabs near the stations, this is worthwhile if the main purpose of filing the PIL by her is achieved,” she said.
Within 100 metres of Metro stations, open lands/reservations need to be surveyed for acquisition or lease for Metro commuter parking bays, Sukhrani said, adding that if a reservation is found, the acquisition process should be initiated immediately.
“If private ownership is found, contact with the land owner for leasing to avoid private pay-and-park operators taking the opportunity without PMC approval, she added.
