Pune: The state government has approved Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) zones along the Hinjawad-Shivajinagar Metro route which is being developed by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). This decision of the government will enable citizens to get four Floor Space Index (FSI) along the route to develop or redevelop their properties.
The Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar metro route is entirely elevated and 23 kilometres long. It has a station proposed at every kilometre distance and the route passes through both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad cities. This metro will be connected to the other two routes – Ramwadi to Vanaz and Pimpri to Swargate route which is being developed by the MahaMetro – passing through the city at the Shivajinagar junction.
The government’s decision of TOD zone approval will benefit citizens from Hinjawadi, Maan, Wakad, Balewadi, Baner and Shivajinagar. The TOD zone decision has been approved under section 154 of MRTP Act. Government has also invited suggestions and objections from citizens about the TOD zone and 4 FSI issues.
The PMRDA will be developing the Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar metro which has been approved by the state and central government. This project is being developed on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is developing the two metro routes through the MahaMetro Company. To make these routes economically viable, the PMC had proposed to the state government to give four FSI for properties in the 500-metre aerial radius distance along the entire route. However, environmental activists opposed this move citing stress on urban infrastructure facilities in the core city areas. After this opposition, the state government had approved 4 FSI around the 500-metre distance of metro stations only.
The PMRDA had proposed 4 FSI along its metro route on similar lines. However, the state government had kept this proposal pending for many days. Kishor Gokhale, Additional Secretary of Urban Development Ministry on Wednesday issued orders approving the 4 FSI along the Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar metro route. Additional FSI will boost construction activities in the metro station region and will help people commute to their offices or home easily.