‘With Rs 5,000-cr projects,Pimpri will outdo Pune’

The likes of Mangala Kadam of the NCP,Bhausaheb Bhoir of the Congress,Shrirang Barne of the Shiv Sena,MLAs Vilas Lande and Laxman Jagtap as well as former and current corporators were present at the function. Mayor Mohini Lande felicitated Sharma and his wife,Shivali.

Civic officials said Sharma’s four-year tenure witnessed hectic development works,especially on projects initiated by his predecessor Dilip Band. “He (Band) triggered the development process in town. I not only pushed his projects,but initiated a spate of others,” Sharma said. Sharma said his administration initiated and implemented projects worth Rs 5,000 crore. Among these were JNNURM projects worth Rs 3,500 crore. “Several of these projects have been completed. Only the Rs 400-crore Pavana pipeline project remains stuck,” he said.

Sharma said when he took charge,only three roads — Pune-Mumbai,Pune-Nashik and the Telco — were in shape. His administration,Sharma said,took up the challenge of constructing five big roads. “These big roads are worth Rs 1,200 crore. They would further enhance the reputation of the industrial town,” he said.

The roads are Nashik Phata to Wakad,Aundh-Ravet,Kalewadi-Dehu,Dehu-Alandi and Bhakti-Shakti-Kiwale. Of these,Sharma said,Nashik-Phata to Wakad and Kalewadi-Dehu would connect the entire Pimpri-Chinchwad. “So far,Pimpri-Chinchwad has been divided into two. These two roads would change that. From Bhosari,you will reach Hinjewadi in no time and can take the bypass to Satara and Kolhapur. Similarly,the Bhakti Shakti-Kiwale Road offers a quicker route to Mumbai.” On these roads,Sharma said,two flyovers worth over Rs 200 crore are coming up. “The double-storied Nashik Phata flyover being made with assitance from the World Bank is the first-of-its-kind in Maharashtra,” he said.

All these projects,said Sharma,will put Pimpri-Chinchwad ahead of Pune. “Pimpri-Chinchwad will be better than Pune city,” he said.

Sharma’s tenure also saw 9,000 flats being handed over to slum-dwellers under JNNURM. Under him,PCMC became the first civic body in Maharashtra to disallow builders from selling parking space. “That norm has been implemented effectively. We are the only civic body to do so in the state,” he said.

Sharma rubbished allegations that his administration had sanctioned too many building projects,leading to water scarcity. “PCMC is exploring alternative water sources. Once the town starts getting water from Andra dam in Maval,the problem will ease,” he said.

Praising his successor,Dr Shrikar Pardeshi,who has taken on illegal constructions,Sharma said,“He (Pardeshi) has started off well. He will have to concentrate on water management and development of merged villages.”

Mayor Mohini Lande said Sharma revived the fortune of PCMC. “PCMC had run out of cash reserves. Sharma breathed life into it.” she said.

Sharma said he cut unwanted expenditure and applied brakes on cost escalation of projects. “PCMC today has over Rs 400 crore deposits,” he said.