Pune Metro Parking Lot Delays Leave Commuters Frustrated: Construction Work Yet to Begin
Pune Metro Achieves Record Ridership Of Over 3.6 Million In August 2024
Pune Metro commuters are growing increasingly frustrated as construction on promised parking lots remains stalled, despite approvals for three facilities within the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) limits. The much-anticipated parking infrastructure, initially announced seven months ago, has yet to materialize, forcing commuters to park on the streets.
Delays in Parking Lot Development
The plans for new parking facilities were approved in February, with designated locations in Pune and Pimpri, including three sites in PCMC. However, the only progress made so far at the Pimpri Metro Station site has been the erection of a security wall, with no further construction underway. This has left the parking lot project far from completion and the plan largely unrealized.
Increased Parking Pressure
With the Metro services extending from Morwadi, Pimpri to Civil Court, and Vanaz to Ruby Hall, the volume of Metro passengers has surged. The lack of available parking facilities at the stations has led commuters to park their vehicles on footpaths and adjacent roads. This situation has resulted in fines and towing by traffic police, adding to the financial strain on passengers.
Announced Parking Facilities
In response to growing demands, the Metro administration announced plans for parking facilities at eight locations across Pune and Pimpri, including three in PCMC. The proposed parking lot near the Pimpri Metro Station was set to accommodate over 60 two-wheelers and 30 four-wheelers. Despite this, no further progress has been made beyond the initial construction of the security wall.
Expected Features
Once completed, the parking facilities will cater to commercial vehicles, bicycles, two-wheelers, and four-wheelers. The lots are expected to be equipped with boom barriers, electricity, CCTV cameras, and services such as app-based booking, digital payments, and digital boards displaying parking availability.
