Prithviraj Chavan okays metro plan for Pune

Many crucial decisions relating to Pune were taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister (CM) Prithviraj Chavan in Mumbai on Thursday. MLC Mohan Joshi had requested the CM to meet elected representatives to discuss the issues.

The state government agreed to approve the proposed metro railway project in the city and to forward the proposal by February 28 to the central government for approval. The project will be completed without private partnership.

It also agreed to form the Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) soon.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, cooperatives minister Harshawardhan Patil, Pune mayor Mohansingh Rajpal, MPs Prakash Javadekar, Shivajirao Adhalrao and Supriya Sule; MLCs Ulhas Pawar, Mohan Joshi, Neelam Gorhe and Anil Bhosale; and MLAs Ramesh Bagwe, Girish Bapat, Bapu Pathare, Madhuri Misal, Chandrakant Mokate, Mahadeo Babar and Ramesh Wanjale attended the meeting.

Leader of house in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Nilesh Nikam, opposition leader Aba Bagul, standing committee chairman Arvind Shinde and president of the city unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Vandana Chavan were also present.

The leaders, after attending the meeting, said a decision was taken to approve the proposed metro project on the Warje-Ramwadi route, approved by the PMC last year, and forwarded to the state  government. The plan would be sent to the Centre for ratification.

Pawar, who holds the portfolio of finance in the state cabinet, assured to make budgetary provision for the Rs2,600-crore project, it was told. The state and Union governments will share 20% each, while the PMC will have to shoulder 10% of the cost. The remaining would have to be raised through loans.

On the proposed biodiversity park (BDP) in the development plan (DP) of 23 merged villages in the PMC, there were some differences of opinion on allowing construction. Chavan agreed to soon find a viable solution. It was learnt that Pawar insisted on taking a decision on the BDP at the earliest.

It was decided at the meeting that the PMC should prepare a project for sewage water treatment in Pune. With the entire sewage water in the city not treated by the PMC, there is a requirement of Rs511 crore for 100% sewage water treatment. The state government would make efforts to get 70% funding for the project from the Centre, while the PMC would be required to pay 30% of the cost.

(with inputs from Surendra Gangan in Mumbai)