PMC begins process to acquire land for bus stands in Baner

The purpose of this project is to prevent needless entry of state buses from the area and help decongest city roads.

The PMC, in order to tackle increasing traffic chaos, has been planning to decongest city roads by developing bus stands for state buses on the outskirts of the city. (File Photo)

The long pending plan to develop a few bus stands for state transport buses located on the city periphery is likely to gain momentum with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) starting to acquire land in Baner. The purpose of this project is to prevent needless entry of state buses from the area and help decongest city roads.

In a proposal submitted to civic standing committee, municipal commissioner Rajendra Bhosale has sought permission to acquire a plot in Baner to be reserved for bus stands for Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses, public transport of the state, city based public bus transport (PMPML) and for bus parking.

The PMC, in order to tackle increasing traffic chaos, has been planning to decongest city roads by developing bus stands for state buses on the outskirts of the city to prevent their needless entry into the city to the bus stands located at Pune railway station, Swargate and Shivajinagar.

Accordingly, the civic body has made reservations in Baner for a bus stand for state and local buses owned by the state to ensure last mile connectivity.

“The reserved Baner land is located alongside Mumbai–Bangalore bypass so a state transport bus stand will ensure that state buses plying between Mumbai to Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Bangalore do not enter the city. This will help decongest city roads. The bus stand will also cater to PMPML buses to allow commuters to use city transport for last mile connectivity from Baner. Moreover, the metro station is being developed alongside on Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar route which will also help commuters,” said civic officer.
Currently, state buses use Baner road to reach bus stands in the city, he said, which leads to traffic chaos which makes commuting arduous, as it takes an hour to cover the distance.

The PMC had acquired part of land in the past and was using it as a PMPML bus depot, while the rest of the land has been reserved for development of the bus stand. However, owners of the land which has been reserved by PMC, have issued a purchase notice to the civic body, demanding that either PMC acquire the plot, or it removes the reservation tag. Owners are unable to use their land for their own projects due to the reservation tag, which is a loss to them.

The civic administration stated that of the total 7,115-sqm plot reserved for PMPML, a plot measuring 30,094 sqmt has been reserved for MSRTC state buses, and 552 sqm for a 30-metre wide road in the area. However, only a part of the land has been acquired for the facility.

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Further on, a 467.52-sqmt plot is still to be acquired for PMPML bus stand estimated to cost Rs 1.64 crore, a plot of 14529.83 sqmt has to be acquired for MSRTC bus stand at Rs 66.72 crore and 552.5 sqmt for developing a road at an estimated Rs 2.53 crore. “The estimated cost will vary at the time of actual purchase,” said the municipal commissioner, who added that the process for this should be begun now.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in: Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps. Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra. Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development. Investigative and Policy Impact: National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism. Additional Interests Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues. Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More

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