We are making all efforts to change the face of Pune, says Fadnavis

Fadnavis showered praise on Madhuri Misal. “When our leaders brought a proposal regarding starting our election campaign, I insisted that the campaign should begin in Pune from Parvati Assembly seat. This is because our candidate Madhuri Misal has been an efficient MLA who has carved an image for herself among the masses for her outstanding work… I have no doubt in my mind that Madhuri tai will score her fourth successive and a record win,” Fadnavis said addressing the rally in Parvati Assembly constituency.

Fadnavis said Madhuri had a big role to play in framing of rules for Slum Rehabilitation Project. “When officials came to me with the file containing SRA rules, I told them that they should first get approval from Madhuri tai. This is because Madhuri tai had been for seven-eight years fighting for getting houses for slum-dwellers, making the scheme feasible and getting increased FSI. We then showed her the rules. She suggested some changes which were carried out. And today, we are building 20,000 houses for the slum-dwellers in this region,” he said. “Instead of 350 square feet houses, we are giving 470 square feet houses to the poor… Slum-dwellers, the poor are going to get their own houses. And in this effort, Madhuri Misal has played a significant role,” he added.

Fadnavis said in the Parvati Assembly seat, flood-affected people were demanding ownership rights for their houses. “We have given ownership rights to 103 societies which has benefittted 35,000 people. Their 60-year-old struggle has finally paid dividends, thanks to efforts of people’s representatives like Madhuri Misal,” he said.

Fadnavis said it was the BJP government which implemented the Pune Metro project at a faster pace. “I want to say with pride that if there is a Metro project in the country which was completed quickly, it was the Pune Metro. Before we came to power, the UPA government had only made the announcement but was not ready to implement the project. After I took charge as the chief minister, I held a meeting with Union minister Nitin Gadkari. We decided to take up the Pune Metro project in all earnest and even set up the Maha Metro company for quick implementation,” he said.

Fadnavis said the multi-modal hub which is being set up in Swargate was the most advanced one in the country. “It was Madhuri Misal who had suggested the integration of PMPML, MSRTC bus and Pune Metro train services by setting up of the multi-modal hub,” he said, adding that approval to the Swargate-Katraj Metro plan was another big achievement of the Mahayuti government.

Pointing out how the Mahayuti government works, Fadnavis said, “When I was in Pune recently, local leaders suggested that we should also implement Khadakvasla to Kharadi Metro project. While sitting in car, I called up the officials and asked them to prepare the DPR. And then within one week, the Cabinet gave approval to the Khadakvasla to Kharadi project.”

Fadnavis said Pune’s biggest problem is related to traffic. “PMPML has the biggest electric vehicle fleet. We are now going to implement ring road plan in such a way that Pune’s traffic problem comes down drastically. We are going to spend Rs 20,000 crore on multi-modal connectivity. It will help us streamline Pune’s traffic,” he said.

Criticising the MVA leaders, Fadnavis said, “MVA leaders like Nana Patole and Sharad Pawar are saying that they will close down the Ladki Bahin Yojana and other schemes if they come to power. I want to tell them don’t eye the financial assistance that we are giving to our sisters.”