Pune Metro|PMRDA proposes Metro line from Shivajinagar to Hinjewwadi

Pune: The newly constituted Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has proposed a Metro rail line from Shivajinagar to Hinjewadi even as the Pune Metro rail project to be implemented by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and (PCMC) for other routes await the Union government’s nod for implementation.

“The PMRDA proposal was approved by all members unanimously. The route will pass through PMC and PCMC to end up at the Information Technology park of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC),” said PMC mayor Dattatraya Dhankawade.

The PMRDA can start planning after the state government’s approval, he said. “The responsibility of the project along with its funding would be on PMRDA,” Dhankawade said. Earlier, the PMRDA had proposed to take up the implementation of Pune Metro rail project but it was opposed by both PMC and PCMC. Also, the PMC had expressed its reservations on Light Rain Transport (LRT) proposed by JICA from Shivajinagar to Hinjewadi, citing huge expenditure for the project and arguing that the civic body could not take up its responsibility as only part of the route passed through the PMC area.

Of the 21.6 km distance between Shivajinagar and Hinjewadi, only 6 km passes through PMC while the rest passes through PCMC and MIDC areas. The JICA report had proposed 20 elevated stations and 3 on-road stations on the 21.6 km route for the LRT that would run at 80 km per hour between Shivajinagar to Hinjewadi. The estimated cost for LRT was Rs 5,769 crore.