Union minister Murlidhar Mohol interview: ‘Last-mile connectivity, awareness, expansion key to boost Pune Metro ridership’

Murlidhar Mohol: It is of serious concern as I am also an elected representative of the city. Here, urbanisation happened quickly over a small period. Pune is larger than Mumbai. The population of the city and metropolitan area has also increased rapidly. Basic infrastructure had to be developed accordingly and it should have been planned 25 years ago, but unfortunately those in power then failed to do so. We are thinking of 50 years down the line and started the metro rail, increased the public transport bus fleet. The Metro network will be increased and 1,000 more public transport buses will be added in service.

Anuradha Mascarenhas: What is the status of the merger of Pune and Khadki cantonment boards with the Pune Municipal Corporation. Is there a timeline?

Murlidhar Mohol: Merger of the cantonment boards with the civic corporation is necessary and we have already decided to go ahead with it. As promised in the election manifesto, we have initiated several procedures and now the issue is at the state government level. However, I cannot give a specific timeline.

Anuradha Mascarenhas: While reacting to MP Rahul Gandhi’s statement on “fighting the Indian state”, you referred to the Congress party as “anti-national”. Please comment.

Murlidhar Mohol: Whenever Rahul Gandhi travels to other countries, it is noted that he is always criticising and defaming our nation. On one hand, Rahul stages protests and makes demands about protecting the Constitution of India. On the other hand, when he visits other countries he does a volte-face and says there is no need for reservation. He keeps changing his stance and insults the Constitution and the country. It is a matter of research why Rahul Gandhi becomes a ‘desh virodhi’ when he is in other countries.

Chandan Haygunde: In October 2024, flights across India received hundreds of bomb threats via anonymous social media accounts, disrupting operations including in Pune. How was it tackled?

Murlidhar Mohol: These were hoax messages and the Civil Aviation Department worked with agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to curb the menace. Essential steps were taken due to which hoax bomb messages have stopped now.

Soham Shah: You talked about the Metro, so did the CM and the PM when they visited before the Maharashtra polls. But if you go to the Metro right now, it will be mostly empty. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) in 2021 projected a daily ridership of 6 lakh. Even accounting for the construction delay, in 2025 we have a ridership of just 1.5 lakh. This is just 25 per cent.

Murlidhar Mohol: I don’t think so. I will ask for the information but I feel the use of the Metro is great, many people are travelling. And the route will be expanded so the ridership will increase.

Soham Shah: But a ridership of 6 lakh was predicted for the routes that are currently operational.

Murlidhar Mohol: Forty lakh people have travelled in the whole month. This is not a small number. We have to focus on last-mile connectivity.

Soham Shah: Public transport experts say we need to research why ridership is not there before expanding the lines.

Murlidhar Mohol: The ridership should have been 6 lakh but we have not achieved it. We have to move forward at least. This fault is not just of the system. Six lakh should have happened and it has not. This is not just the fault of the Metro or the people who built it. At the end of the day, we (the public) should also feel that we want to travel by the Metro. It is true that last-mile connectivity should improve, but if it is available and one still doesn’t use the Metro then that should be thought about. So awareness is also important.

Soham Shah: The Union Ministry of Urban Development had suggested BRTS or light rail instead of Metro as the route’s Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic (PHPDT) is less than 30,000. It is going to be difficult to meet DPR numbers even if we build many more lines.

Murlidhar Mohol: No, how can that be? I feel there are many things to consider in this. If we increase the lines then ridership will increase. More and more people will become aware and they won’t have to take out their private vehicles. If people don’t use their private vehicles only then the ridership will increase. We are building the Metro even for people from the outskirts, from Khadakwasla to Hadapsar. That is a big route and the people won’t bring their cars into the city. This will result in increased ridership. From this discussion, I have realised that we need to do a lot to increase ridership.

Ajay Jadhav: Who is going to develop the Purandar airport? The Airports Authority of India, Maharashtra Airport Development Co Ltd or private firms? Is there a proposal from a private firm?

Murlidhar Mohol: Now the focus is on acquiring land for the airport which has to be done by the state government. After that, a decision will be taken on who will develop it. There are no proposals from private firms as of now but if it comes, it will be in consideration as the project requires huge funds. The state government does not have funds for the purpose. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has funds so they have been asked to acquire land but development decisions will be taken later on.

Sunanda Mehta: We have written about the Gliding Centre being handed over to the AAI…

Murlidhar Mohol: I feel a clarification is needed. It is being said that the Gliding Centre will be privatised. This is not true. The location is being transferred to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) under the government. This is not a private company and there is no privatisation. Whatever the aviation ministry wants will happen there.

We should all clarify that there is no private company or privatisation. The AAI will do what is necessary for the civil aviation sector. The property is nearly 200-250 acres and it should be utilised. It should be used for the civil aviation sector.

Murlidhar Mohol, the Pune MP and Union MoS for Cooperation and Civil Aviation, says if people don’t use their private vehicles only then the Pune Metro ridership will increase. (Express Photo by Pavan Khengre)

Ajay Jadhav: Do you have any specific plans for development at the Gliding Centre land?

Murlidhar Mohol: The land parcel is too big and needs to be effectively utilised. It will be transferred to the AAI which is under the Union government so it will take a call on how to use it for the civil aviation sector. I as a city MP will push for something to be developed for the aviation field.

Ajay Jadhav: The Pune civic body is already struggling to meet citizens’ needs. The city is now growing vertically which will further strain civic infrastructure. Isn’t it time to limit urbanisation here?

Murlidhar Mohol: There is no other alternative as we cannot stop the public from coming to the city. The focus should be to fulfill the demands of the population. It is a challenge and we have to take it up.

Parthasarathi Biswas: With the Navi Mumbai airport being operational, how ready are airlines to move there?

Murlidhar Mohol: Airlines are ready to shift their operations to the Navi Mumbai airport. News about their reluctance is not true. Domestic operations will start from March this year and international operations post-April 2025. At present, this is the largest airport and it will help in increasing air connectivity.

Parthasarathi Biswas: Tell us about the fate of Purandar airport. We understand that the land acquisition is to start soon.

Murlidhar Mohol: Pune International Airport will come up in Purandar and that is final. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had finalised this spot during his previous tenure. However, when the government changed in 2019, the spot was moved and thus no work could happen. As soon as Devendraji came back to power, he was clear that the airport would come up in the same place. Now the MIDC has been instructed to start land acquisition. The airport will be operational by 2029.

Sunanda Mehta: When do you think the municipal elections will take place and what has the city lost out on by not having a mayor or an elected body for about three years now?

Murlidhar Mohol: The city has lost having their representative – a municipal corporator. It is not good that elections have not happened in the last three years. Due to the process getting extended in court, time has been lost. But around January 22 there is a hearing and if there is a positive judgment, I feel the elections might be held in April. But if not, then definitely by Diwali the elections will take place.

There were definitely losses because of this. People go to the ward office or the corporation…whom to meet for which work is not clear. If a corporator is there they have their office, their karyakartas. Through their channel they help the people, that is what the corporator is for. The gap of three years also had a negative result on the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. But we are of the view that elections should happen as soon as possible, but it depends on the court’s decision.

Sunanda Mehta: Will the Mahayuti fight these elections together or will the BJP go solo?

Murlidhar Mohol: Right now, we are together and will fight together. This is the position as of now.

Soham Shah: Minister Nitish Rane has said that Kerala is a mini-Pakistan. What is your view on such statements in Maharashtra politics?

Murlidhar Mohol: I feel at the end of the day we are in politics and are representatives of the people. While speaking we should think about everything. Why he said it can only be answered by him.

Soham Shah: He said terrorists vote for the Gandhis (Rahul and Priyanka) in Kerala which is why they get elected. That logic would make people in Rae Bareli terrorists as well?

Murlidhar Mohol: Instead of focusing on what Rane said today, we should focus on those who did the politics of caste and religion. Those who have used Muslims, Christians and minorities as vote banks. That is very important and no one talks about it, but they have been used as vote banks. And if there is something true then Rane says it, parkatpane mhantat te.

Pavan Khengre: How is the experience of working with Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi?

Murlidhar Mohol: I have always been a karyakarta who watches big politicians from afar. Just to do namaskar from afar if our eyes meet. Today it is my fortune that I sit beside them and work for the country. BJP is the party where common karyakartas can reach this level. I used to work at the ward level, then at the Vidhan Sabha level, and state level. The work I did in the organisation has led me here.

I don’t meet Modiji regularly but every 7-8 days at some event or the other. He has so much energy and works so much. Never tires. For someone like me what can be a better ideal?

Amit Shah’s working style is completely different. He makes such decisions in one second that it affects the whole country. Be it in the Cooperation Ministry or the Home Ministry. To work with such people there is a positive pressure and you get to learn a lot.

Sunanda Mehta: As a first-time MP, did you expect to be made a minister?

Murlidhar Mohol: Not at all. I was just working towards being the Pune MP and was happy with that. I was fast asleep when I got the call to go to Delhi the next day.