PUNE: Weeks after the initial trial of the metro, all party representatives have put forth suggestions to add as many as 16 more routes to bring far-flung localities including Khadakwasla and Wagholi on Pune’s metro map.
The wish list presented to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) administration by MPs Supriya Sule and Amol Kolhe, along with other sitting and former corporators, seeks to add another 106-odd km to the metro.
The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MahaMetro) had originally planned two routes - Nigdi to Swargate and Vanaz to Ramwadi - covering a distance of 31 km. Currently, MahaMetro is executing two routes in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal limits - one is Pimpri (PCMC) to Swargate (16.5 km) and the other is Vanaz (Kothrud) to Ramwadi (14.6 km).
As work gains momentum, local politicians from all parties are demanding extension in Pune and Pune Metropolitan Regional Authority (PMRDA) region.
DEMANDS IN PUNE
NCP corporators from Hadapsar have demanded an extension from Swargate to Hadapsar, while NCP MLA Sunil Tingre and former BJP MLA Jagdish Mulik from Vadgaon Sheri assembly constituency have given a letter to PMC to extend routes from Ramwadi to airport and Ramwadi to Wagholi, respectively. MP Supriya Sule wants to bring Sinhgad Road up to Khadakwasla on the map. Corporators from Warje also have demanded a route from SNDT College onwards covering parts of Kothrud. Meanwhile, PMC has prepared a Detail Project Report (DPR) of Swargate-Katraj extension.
DEMANDS IN PCMC
PMRDA has started work on Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar metro route in the first phase. Now, PCMC members have demanded that it should be extended to Chakan from Nashik Phata. Shirur MP Amol Kolhe has demanded extension up to Loni Kalbhor.
POSITIVE RESPONSE
Responding positively to the demands, PMC Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said, “Instead of preparing a DPR in phases, we have decided to prepare an integrated DPR of all extensions, including PMRDA region. The corporation has decided to consult with PMRDA and make plans to prepare a DPR for long-term planning of the metro network.”
Officials of MahaMetro also welcomed the suggestions. “We have experienced that once a city gets its primary metro, citizens demand extensions. We should aim for greater connectivity through metro and extensions will help increase footfall. A commuter should not have to walk for more than a kilometre to reach a metro station and so extensions are always welcome,” an official told Sakal Times.