10.2.19

Pune HCMTR work should start by June: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed Pune mayor Mukta Tilak and municipal commissioner Saurabh Rao to expedite the High Capacity Mass Transit Route project.

The chief minister said this would decongest the city and told the authorities to invite expressions of interest by the end of this month, in order for the work to begin by June.

Fadnavis said this after breaking ground for the Swargate multi-modal hub. The chief minister, who held a detailed discussion with Tilak and Rao, has assured to personally clear any hurdles to the project. “The HCMTR is will infuse new life into the existing integrated transport system, as well as connect the Metro lines and the ring road,” Fadnavis said.

The project has been pending for 30 years before it received the chief minister’s nod last year. Pune Municipal Corporation had appointed a financial consultant for the project, which is expected to cost Rs.6,500 crore, of which Rs.1,500 crore will be used for land acquisition.

Speaking about the Swargate hub, Fadnavis said it aims to integrate public transport — Metro, PMPML buses — as well as private transport. The chief minister also inaugurated 25 electric buses and special buses for women, which are expected to ply on the city’s roads from Monday.

Lauding Pune for its phenomenal growth and observing that infrastructure projects were on track, Fadnavis expressed confidence that work on MahaMetro’s two lines will be completed within the deadline. “While Pune city is known as an IT hub and education hub, it is also known as a polluted city. To address this issue, green mobility transportation is being implemented and made accessible through these e-buses,” Fadnavis said.

He called for a smart transportation model, wherein people can access public transport through mobile apps. “Once the transport facilities are integrated, it would be possible to have these solutions,” Fadnavis said.

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