Pune : Vanaz to Chandni Chowk and Ramwadi to Wagholi metro stretches approved by state govt

The State Cabinet has today (March 11) approved the expansion of the Vanaz to Ramwadi line in the Pune Metropolitan Metro Rail Project Phase-I to Vanaz to Chandni Chowk and Ramwadi to Wagholi (Vithalwadi) projects. Considering the importance of this project in the transport development of Pune, these projects were approved in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had consistently followed up with the central government through the state government for this metro line. Moreover, all the important projects in the state including Pune are being regularly reviewed through the project monitoring unit in his office. Efforts will also be made through this chamber to ensure that the projects approved today are completed on time.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also thanked the central government and his colleagues in the state cabinet for approving the new routes. These routes will help the citizens to get rid of the traffic congestion in the city by providing an environment-friendly option of transportation. Pawar has said that there will be an attempt to start the work of these routes soon.

Pune Municipal Corporation had submitted this proposal to the government through Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. The Vanaz to Chandni Chowk extension on the Vanaz to Ramwadi route in Pune Metro Rail Project Phase-1 is 1.12 km long and 2 stations are proposed on this route. The length of Ramwadi to Wagholi (Vithalwadi) route is 11.63 kilometers and 11 stations are proposed on this route.

Approval has been given to implement the fully elevated metro rail project through Maha Metro with a total length of 12.75 km and 13 elevated stations at a project completion cost of Rs 3756 crore 58 lakhs. In this, the participation of the central and state governments is Rs 496 crore 73 lakh (15.40 per cent) each, the secondary loan of the central and state governments for 50 per cent of the central tax is Rs 148 crore 57 lakh (4.60 per cent) each, the loan assistance of bilateral and multilateral institutions is Rs 1 Thousand 935 Crore 89 Lakh (60 percent). Thus, the project cost of Rs 3 thousand 226 Crore 49 Lakh will be eligible for central government subsidy.

Apart from this, interest free secondary loan of state government for state tax is 259 crores 65 lakhs, interest free secondary loan of state government for land acquisition is Rs 24 crores 86 lakhs, State Govt interest free subordinated loan of Rs. 65 crores 34 lakhs, Pune Municipal Corporation’s contribution for land is Rs 24 lakhs, the interest free secondary loan of the State Government for construction period interest will be Rs 180 crores.

For the project, the Pune Municipal Corporation will contribute Rs. Pune Municipal Corporation has been directed to provide financial assistance of 24 lakhs/land to Maha Metro. Approval has been given to make available Rs 496 Crore 73 Lakhs of the State Government’s share in the said project to Maha Metro.

Approval has also been granted to provide 50 per cent of the Central Government tax, State Government taxes and charges, land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement and interest during the construction period to a total of Rs 678 crore 42 lakh as interest-free secondary loan from the State Government. Maha Metro has been instructed to repay the secondary loan after repayment of the main loan taken for the project.

For the project, the Central Government has provided Rs. 496 crore 73 lakh shares and Rs. Approval has also been granted to request the Central Government for obtaining interest-free secondary loan assistance of 148.57 crores. The Managing Director, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd has been authorized to enter into correspondence for obtaining funds through the Central Government.

The Managing Director, Maha Metro has been authorized to take a low interest rate loan through Bilateral/Multilateral Financial Institutions/Other Financial Institutions to the extent of Rs.10935 Crore 89 Lakhs for the project on the condition that no burden of principal, interest and other charges shall fall on the State Government. Maha Metro will be responsible for the repayment of the principal and interest of the loan taken through the bilateral/multilateral financial institution for the project.

The Government has approved the implementation of this metro project as per “Metro Railway Act 2009 (Amended)”. Both these metro line projects have been approved to be declared as “Urgent Public Project” and “Ambitious Civil Transport Project” for various purposes.

Private land required for timely completion of metro rail projects for metro rail station facilities as well as car depots can be done under the Metro Rail Act, 2009 / Maharashtra Regional and Urban Planning Act, 1966 / New Central Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Redevelopment Act, 2013, or under Transfer of Development Rights.

In case of any increase in the cost of this metro project, Maha Metro and Pune Municipal Corporation have been instructed to bear the entire burden/responsibility of the said increase. During the construction period of the metro rail, the relevant departments will be instructed to temporarily use the vacant spaces of the government and semi-governmental organizations along the said metro line and the concerned departments should make the said vacant spaces available to the Maha Metro at a nominal rate.

In order to rehabilitate the project victims under this project, the rehabilitation policy implemented under the government decision of the Department of Housing and Special Assistance for the rehabilitation of the project victims for the MUTP project has been approved to be implemented with the said project.

Industrial development and expansion of the city is also taking place rapidly. The government is trying to provide environment-friendly public transport facilities to the growing population. If the metro network is built in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, the traffic congestion in the city will be removed and the level of pollution will also decrease. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has expressed the belief that the newly approved metro lines will connect the citizens of the suburbs to the city through faster transport.

Shreyas Vange