Pune Metro project finally on track

A special purpose vehicle (SPV), integration of Metro, mono rails and BRTS, and a time-bound programme for its implementation — with these suggestions, the Union government on Thursday gave an assurance of making budgetary provision for Pune Metro in the annual budget of 2013-14 so that work on the ambitious project begins in the next financial year.

A few political leaders from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), civic officers of the two civic bodies, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Pune MP Suresh Kalmadi, and Rajya Sabha members Prakash Javdekar and Vandana Chavan had a meeting with Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath in New Delhi on Thursday to seek approval for the Metro project. There will be another meeting of officers on January 14 to discuss the project in detail.

After going through the presentation, Kamal Nath assured that the Union government would do all possible funding for the project. "The Union minister urged that the SPV of Pune should become an ideal model for other cities with integration of Metro, mono rail and BRTS," said Mayor Vaishali Bankar.

The minister asked the delegation to immediately register the SPV and send the proposal to the Union government so that provisions could be made in the next financial budget draft, she said, adding: "He also urged us to make time-bound programme for implementation of the Metro rail project and set deadlines for each work."

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officers present in the meeting clarified that there would be a problem in starting the work if any changes were brought in the alignment of the planned route.

The PMC decision to allow four Floor Space Index (FSI) within a distance of 500 metres on both sides of the route was appreciated as it would help in raising funds.

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