Journalism of Courage
Underground Metro not viable option,citizens will have to pay more
Even as the debate is on over whether the city should have an underground or an elevated Metro,the Urban Development Department (UDD) has forwarded the proposal of an elevated Metro to the state Cabinet. The UDD seems to have pitched its lot behind the elevated Metro,an idea which was opposed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The UDD has also sent a Cabinet note to Pawar.
According to the assessment of the first two kilometres for the elevated Metro,a commuter would pay Rs 10,he said. For an underground Metro,he or she would have to pay Rs 21.21,he added. For the next two-four km,the commuter would have to shell out Rs 12 for elevated and Rs 26.5 for underground Metro,said Benjamin.
Benjamin said that the income would be negative for operating the underground Metro for the government as against an elevated one and it is not financially viable in the current scenario. PMC needs to take a call as the Metro is supposed to be a viable public transport. It should not be a financial load on those travelling by it. In Mumbai and Navi Mumbai,the elevated Metro is acceptable,why it is being delayed for Pune, he asked.
UDD officials feel the discussions about the elevated and underground Metro will only delay the matter further. If there is any other change of decision,then a new DPR needs to be prepared. This would delay the project by another two years. There would involve extensive survey and definitely delay the matter, said Benjamin.
The PMCs draft budget has earmarked Rs 3 crore as project development. Civic chief Mahesh Phatak said the state government is not working on any proposal for an underground Metro.
