Pune Metro snippets

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) standing committee has resolved to begin building a metro railway on the proposed 14.925 km metro corridor from Vanaz to Ramwadi. The project will cost Rs 2,281 (including taxes), towards which the PMC plans to contribute 10 per cent, get 40 per cent from the state and Centre and the rest from private players. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had recommended that its model for a metro railway be incorporated jointly in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The DMRC had also suggested that a company be formed to run the project. “The DMRC has suggested execution of the project on two corridors. The first corridor is from the PCMC to Swargate, while the second corridor is from Vanaz to Ramwadi. The first corridor will run within PMC and PCMC limits but the PCMC is dragging its feet about moving ahead with the project,” said standing committee chairman Arvind Shinde, speaking to reporters on Tuesday. “Pune needs a metro as soon as possible. We cannot wait for the PCMC to decide its stand. The standing committee approved the resolution that the PMC should start the metro project on the second corridor,” he said. The project cost for the phase-II corridor between Vanaz and Ramwadi is Rs 1,948 crore (excluding taxes) and Rs 2,281 crore (including taxes), said Shinde. “As per the detailed project report (DPR), the PCMC and the PMC were to contribute 5 per cent each to the total project cost. However, now the PMC will contribute 10 per cent, while the state and Centre will contribute 20 per cent each. For the remaining 50 per cent contribution, the PMC will approach private companies. We will later decide on the model for private participation,” said Shinde. The standing committee also resolved that the metro corridor be extended to Kharadi/Chandannagar as per convenience and availability of funds. It also decided to appoint a special officer to co-ordinate the project. The DMRC had suggested that for execution of the project a special purpose vehicle named the ‘Pune Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC)’ be formed as per the Company Act 1956 and representatives of the state and central government be appointed as directors of the special purpose vehicle. “We will decide later on the formation of the PMRC,” said Shinde. “As of now the PMC itself will initiate the project. After approving the proposal, the standing committee has forwarded it to the general body which will forward it to the state government for sanction. We will ensure that the project starts immediately as the metro is one of the main solutions to the city’s traffic problems,” he added.
PROPOSED ROUTES
CORRIDOR 1: PCMC TO SWARGATE
Underground: 5.019 km
Elevated: 11.570 km
Total: 16.589 km
Stations: Nine elevated and six underground
Status: Put on hold by the PMC
CORRIDOR 2: VANAZ TO RAMWADI
Underground: Nil
Elevated: 14.925 km
Stations: 15 elevated ones
Status: PMC standing committee approves the project