9.3.19

CM okays ₹1,722-cr budget for PMRDA

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis approved the Rs.1,722-crore budget (2019-20) for the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority, over half of which will be spent on the Metro project and ring road.

The “election-year” budget was Rs 225 crore more than that of the current fiscal (2018-19), which had allocations worth Rs.1,497 crore. Interestingly, the PMRDA budget for 2018-19 initially contained allocations worth Rs.2,591 crore, which were later scaled down by the authorities concerned.

The budget was cleared at a meeting, chaired by the chief minister, in Mumbai. After approving the budget, Fadnavis said the budget would help in pushing the “proposed projects”.

When contacted, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Shravan Hardikar, who is holding an additional charge of PMRDA, termed the budget “realistic”. He said, “We are keeping the ring road, Metro and town planning schemes as the primary focus areas in the region.”

The PMR, which has pushed for affordable housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana through a joint venture with the state housing department, also approved for reserving 13.3 hectares of land under the scheme.

Hardikar said the work for the proposed 128 km ring road will commence this year. “The Centre is expected to disburse Rs.200 crore for PMRDA, which will be used for various projects,” he said.

The CM has also approved the land acquisition model for the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro route. A senior PMRDA official said a demonstrative centre would also be set up to prepare a concept plan for the PMRDA region. “The CM has approved the appointment of a consultant for water supply, water treatment, rain water harvesting and solid waste management,” he said.

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