25.10.15

Pune Ring Road update

Transit-oriented development, where people prefer to walk and use public transportation over personal modes of transport, would suit the Pune Metropolitan Development Authority (PMRDA) and the realty sector well. Such development has been proposed along the 170-km ring road around Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Guardian minister Girish Bapat, who also heads the PMRDA, said the state government is looking forward to planned development along the ring road. He added that the government was coordinating with state agencies to fast-track the ring road so that TOD could be planned. “We have to develop housing and other infrastructure along the ring road and provide connectivity to people there. The state is focusing on decentralized development of the city ,“ he said.
PMRDA chief executive officer Mahesh Zagade has started inspection of the ring road alignment to speed up the process of land acquisition. “Both cities should be decongested. We are working on a model to deal with the challenges. The thrust of PMRDA's plan will be on developing a transport model.The concept of 'walk to work', wherein working stations would be near residential areas, will ensure people do not have to spend long hours commuting,“ he said at a public interaction organized by Sajag Nagrik Manch.
In Pune, links to the core are important for overall quality of life. Driven by the need to look or traffic solutions, a decision to have a ring road was taken in 2007. About 48 hectares of government land would have to be acquired, while 25 hectares of private land would be needed.
Nearly 10 lakh vehicles will use the ring road. It wil be integrated with the city's road network and connected o the Mumbai-Pune, Solapur, Satara, Ahmednagar and Nashik highways. MSRDC oficials said a large volume of heavy vehicular traffic from he highways passes through he city's roads and the ring road will ease traffic congestion and reduce road accidents.
The government of India's policy on TOD states that it is a key policy initiative for low-carbon, high-density, compact, mixed land use and sustainable development by minimizing travel time for citizens, promoting use of public transport, reducing pollution and congestion, creating more homogeneous neighborhoods, having work places near residences, creating public amenities within walking distances and providing safe environment through redevelopment along MRTS (Mass Rapid Transport System) corridors.

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