Pune Metro | Proposed

[Ashis Mitra]

What is the present status of the metro project? Will it really be built?

[World8115]

Metro could match growing city's needs

Source: TOI

The metro rail project is important for Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad's nearly 50 lakh population as it would address a decade of traffic problems that worsened after an increase in private vehicles.

Other multi-modal mass public transportation projects like tram, skybus and monorail have been non-starters, while the bus rapid transit system is poorly implemented.

Before the 2002 civic elections, political parties including the Congress, BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP had promised the execution of the Konkan Railway Corporation's skybus project. The election manifestos of these parties mentioned a Rs 3,500 crore skybus project.

Between 2002 and 2007, the project was much discussed in the civic corridors. A team of elected office-bearers and civic officials, who had been to Goa to see the trial runs of the skybus were for the project. However, it was soon forgotten as issues related to its feasibility and safety cropped up.

During the same years, the PMC and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporation came up with the idea of a tram service between the two cities. Some civic members and officials visited Germany to examine its feasibility and subsequently the project reports were made. However, it did not progress beyond the basic planning stage as the civic bodies dithered.

The Pune Municipal Corporation planned e-buses (electrically-operated) along riverside roads. The project was to be undertaken after seeking a Rs 1,100 crore loan from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation. However, the project was scrapped after it turned into a political controversy.

The monorail project too met with the same fate in 2007. Although, the civic body had asked the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) to check the feasibility on a 25-km stretch, political backing withered away.

The pilot Bus Rapid Transit project on a 16.5 km stretch has run into problems with transportation experts pointing to lack of basic features like a dedicated bus route, non-availability of good buses with frequency, lack of level boarding facilities, and absence of other facilities for bus commuters and pedestrians.

Transportation experts have said that the city's BRT, launched in December 2006, is only a dedicated bus route service. Five years since the launch of the project, the pilot BRTS is in a bad shape because of its poor implementation. PMC's plan to implement BRT on various other roads too has been put on hold with numerous controversies surrounding the project.

The city's basic bus transport service is grossly neglected. While a unified public transport company PMPML was formed for Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad in 2007, it continues to face flak for poor services to cater to the present population of 50 lakh. It also lacks other basic facilities such as bus depots for carrying out repairs and maintenance.

Against this background, while there are initial doubts over the implementation of the metro rail project, many point out that it is necessary for the city to solve the transportation problems. City police commissioner Meeran Chadha Borwankar is in support of the project.

At the launch of the traffic help booth early this year, she had said that the metro rail project should be started at the earliest to help solve the city's traffic problems. Observing that the public transport system needs to be strengthened, Borwankar however said that PMPML services alone would be inadequate to cater to the large population of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. A metro rail would benefit citizens, she added.

Prashant Inamdar of Pedestrians First says that while he was not against either elevated of underground metro project. " However, a decision about the type of metro should be taken with utmost care and seriousness. For the urbanization and population, and its long-term benefits, an underground metro would be most suitable for the city, although its cost appear high," he said.

Sujit Patwardhan of Parisar working for sustainable public transport said there needs to be conviction among the city planners taking important decisions to improve public transport. " A metro will benefit the city for the next 200 years, but it should be implemented with careful planning, considering its utility and future needs and not as a political stunt," he said.

Vehicles on the rise

In the last 15 years, the Pune Municipal Corporation has planned many ambitious projects for improving public transport. In April this year, the number of vehicles in Pune city crossed the 20-lakh mark. In 2001, there were 9.02 lakh vehicles registered with the Pune regional transport office. The number of two-wheelers and cars has doubled. Traffic officials say that considering the vehicle population of Pimpri-Chinchwad as well as vehicles which come to the city everyday, the number of vehicles has already crossed the 26-lakh mark. Regional transport officials said that in the last three years, vehicles have increased annually by around 1.2 lakh. Earlier, the average annual increase in vehicles was one lakh.

HCMTR in the offing, promises civic body

Source: TOI

A decision has been taken to reserve the proposed high capacity mass transit route (HCMTR) only for public transport, said Ganesh Bidkar, standing committee chairman of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

Municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak and Bidkar attended a meeting of HCMTR that was held on Friday.

"No private vehicles should be allowed on this route that will be dedicated solely to public transport. Any mass transit system, such as monorail or metro, can be made operational on this route. It has been decided to appoint a consultant to prepare a detailed project report," Bidkar said while addressing a news conference here on Friday. "It has also been decided to hand over the land acquisition for the project to a private firm. Tenders for the same will be floated soon," Bidkar added.

Bidkar said around 7.60 lakh sq metres land is required for the project. Of this, nearly 52,000 sq metres has already been acquired. Apart from private lands, lands owned by forest department, state government, the Pune Cantonment Board and Khadki Cantonment Board is to be acquired.

"A committee of PMC officials has been formed to ensure that the land is acquired fast. Other decisions to speed up the process include use of development TDR and premium for land acquisition. PMC will offer development TDR and premium to acquire the land," Bidkar said.

HCMTR is a land route earmarked under the development plan of 1987 for swift movement of public transport vehicles and a rail-based corridor. The PMC is planning to develop nearly 34-km-long route for this project.

The Development Plan for 1987 had shortlisted two internal ring roads - one that will pass through Peth areas and the other an HCMTR route connecting areas between Bopodi and Hadapsar.

Of the total 430 square kilometres limit of the PMC, only 7.5% land has been developed for roads and about 65% roads earmarked in the 1987 DP have been completed. According to PMC's own survey, severe traffic congestion in the heart of the city does not allow vehicles to exceed 10-12 km/hour speed on an average.

The 1987 DP had underlined the need to execute inner ring road project linking various thoroughfares within municipal limits. The state town planning department had worked out a detailed route of the road that passed via various congested areas and linked main thoroughfares.

[fuwad]

DMRC for elevated rail, Ajit firm on underground metro

Mon Nov 21 2011, 04:44 hrs Pune:

Even as Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is set to submit its final report to the state government on Monday on the proposed Pune metro in favour of an elevated rail, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday reaffirmed his faith on an underground metro as the best for the city. “After learning from other cities, I decided to support an underground metro. Although expensive, it’s in the interest of a bustling city like Pune,” he told this paper.

Rejecting an elevated metro he was earlier in favour of, he said projects in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi have led to environmental issues and noise pollution. He said, “Do we need a project that goes against public interest and health?”

The Pune Guardian Minister said although he had earlier supported an elevated metro, he changed his mind after realising several lacunae. “I have become aware of problems created by elevated metros. Apart from learning from other cities, I held discussions with experts and came to the conclusion that an underground metro is ideal for Pune,” he said.

If an elevated metro is taken up, the biggest hurdle would be during land acquisition, he said and added, “In an already congested city, displacing hundreds of people will unnecessarily disturb peace. For an underground rail, there is no need to displace people or acquire land. The project will take shape faster than an elevated one,” he said. Although it would require lot of money, it would be worth the investment. “If we consider the future of a growing city like Pune, we won’t regret the investment,” he said.

He said some sections of society and journalists were pushing for an elevated metro, but he was firm on his decision. “Although our party does not have the majority in the state or the civic body, we are firm on our decision,” he said.

NCP city unit chief Vandana Chavan said the party has taken the right decision. “First we thought an elevated metro would be good, but after a thorough study, we decided to pitch in for an underground metro. Our leader Ajit Pawar has made the right decision unlike some favouring an elevated metro without studying ground realities,” she said.


The underground metro has wide support among civic activists, experts, industrialists and parties like the Shiv Sena. The Pune Metro Jagruti Abhiyan (PMJA) has been on the forefront of the demand for an underground metro and applauded the NCP for its stand.

The PMJA Abhiyan said underground metro was any day better than an elevated one as far as environment, safety and saving trees or historical monuments are concerned. Industrialist and PMJA member Arun Firodia said they had been rooting for an underground metro.

“An elevated metro could be vulnerable as Pune is in seismic zone four, but not an underground metro,” said Narendra Bhagwat, an expert on underground rail. Dr Ketan Gokhale, former MD, Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd, has also been in favour of underground metro because of its advantages.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dm...metro/878528/0

[Indtrans]

If the entire stretch of first line of Pune metro i.e. Vanaz to Ramwadi, need to be U/G, then new DPR(Detailed Project Report) need to be prepared.
That will take again some more time. Then obiviously the project cost will be higher. The new DPR will need to send to State Govt for approval again.
I think it will take at least two years to start the work if such a change is going to take place.

[cncity]

Pune metro's funding options ready, DMRC looks at nitty-gritties

PUNE: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has drafted the financial viability to build the 14.925-km corridor of the Pune metro railway from Vanaz on Paud Road to Ramwadi on Ahmednagar Road, but will need more time to finalize the details.

"We have worked out the final rates of the project as sought by the Maharashtra government. We were to submit the data to the government on Monday, but we need a few more days," DMRC's executive director S D Sharma told TOI on Friday.

The draft plan suggested financial models which includes the DMRC's own model and a build-operate-transfer option with viability gap funding and public-private partnership.

Under the DMRC model, 50 % of the cost would come through the Central government, while the remaining 50% is to be jointly invested by a special purpose vehicle (ideally, a private company) and the state government. This model is the quickest and the cheapest way, according to the DMRC.

The civic body will contribute 10 % and get 40 % from the state and the Centre and source the rest from private players. As per estimates in 2009, the second corridor between Vanaz and Ramwadi will cost Rs 1,948 crore and Rs 2,281 crore if taxes are included.

A senior official said that the state was looking at setting up the Pune Metro Rail Corporation Limited (PMRC), a Special Purpose Vehicle Company Act, 1956.

The proposed company, the state and the centre could contribute 40% funds, the state could provide another 11% through rehabilitation and land deals, the state and centre could give 12% funds in the form of additional tax, 7% could come from property development, this coupled with a loan component of 1.2% and a market borrowing of 30% would help implement the project.

The state government will consult the PMC and the DMRC will give a final financial model for Pune metro. Sources in the state government said some big private players have shown interest in the Pune metro rail project. "The state government will most probably go ahead with the DMRC's plan as no other transport mode other than the metro is feasible for Pune city," a state official said.

Execution of a monorail will cost about Rs 130-140 crore per km, while the metro will cost Rs 150-160 crore per km. However, the passenger carrying capacity of the metro is much higher than the monorail.

According to the DMRC, metro structures last for over 75 years, but the capital cost of such projects is difficult to recover though the running expenditure could be got back. The elevated metro is expected to cost Rs 4 crore per km per month, while the underground metro will cost Rs 6 crore per km per month.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/10823946.cms

[Indtrans]

In the general body meeting of PMC, the decision regarding to "underground metro" was postponded till March 2012. Due to this the way for first line (i.e. Vanaz to Ramwadi) looks to be clear.
Now its responsibility of the state government to apporve the first line to start the work.
Let us see what happens.

[fuwad]

Pune: Path cleared for elevated metro plan

Published: Wednesday, Nov 23, 2011, 11:49 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Pune | Agency: DNA

The proposal for underground metro project on Vanaz to Ramwadi route in the city was effectively rejected by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) general body (GB) on Tuesday. The ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) allowed its consideration to be adjourned till March 2012, despite support by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

With this development a possible hurdle in implementation of 15-km elevated metro railway project was removed, as the passage of underground metro project proposal would have resulted in trashing all work done for elevated metro.

Post-February 2012 PMC polls, political equations in the civic body would change and, meanwhile, the state government may approve and forward the elevated metro project to the central government. Thus, the path for the elevated metro project was cleared due to the failure to pass a resolution for the underground one. Had the GB approved the underground metro proposal, it would have required starting the long process again.

It was an opportunity for the ruling NCP to pass the proposal with Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) support, but it did not attempt to do it.

When the resolution was declared for consideration, the group leader of Congress in PMC and leader of opposition, Aba Bagul, moved a supplementary resolution to adjourn the proposal to March 2012.

Instead of opposing the adjournment motion, the NCP supported it in alliance with the Congress. The adjournment motion was passed with 25 votes in favour and 19 in opposition. Most of the NCP members were absent in the house during the voting.
Shiv Sena and MNS members, and independent corporator Ujwal Keskar, opposed the resolution.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) abstained from voting, its member and chairman of standing committee Ganesh Bidkar supported the adjournment motion.

The PMC had approved a proposal for elevated metro in June 2010 and sent it to the state government for approval and to forward it to the central government for final approval. Chief minister (CM) Prithviraj Chavan had declared in the city on October 31 that the state government was working on the financial package for the elevated metro project.

Following the CM’s declaration, the NCP, which was instrumental in passing the resolution of elevated metro, changed its stand as deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar asked for an underground metro instead of the elevated one. Against this background, independent corporator Ujwal Keskar had moved a proposal before the GB for underground metro.

A similar proposal for underground metro from Vanaz to Ramwadi was defeated a few days ago in the PMC standing committee as the Congress and the BJP joined hands to oppose it and Bidkar used his casting vote as a chairman.

Then, the NCP had joined hands with Sena to support the resolution for underground metro.
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/repor...o-plan_1616285

[p2p4]

This is great news for Pune. Now let's hope things get moving across the board and on to the building sites.

This will certainly take away a LARGE chunk of traffic off Pune roads.

[adam_india]

Originally Posted by p2p4

let's hope things get moving across the board and on to the building sites.

sorry to crash your hopes but unless the state govt. moves fast there is going to be internal bickering between Cong & NCP about this next year after the local elections, which might really push the project off by a year a even more...till that time the traffic situation is just going to go even more crazy. The danger and absolute madness surprises me every time I return to the city after travelling around a bit. The traffic has really become unruly & beyond uncivilised. Punekars seem to be going down rather than up in the evolution ladder. It's like they become bloody monkeys once they get on their bikes or into their cars.

[devendra1]

truely said no where in India you get so many uncivilized riders. Pune should lead in no of people breaking traffic rules

[Ashis Mitra]

Although it is costlier, but underground metro is the best solution. Far less land aquisition, and no question of visual hampering.

Even the proposed line 4 & 6 of Kolkata metro, which earlier thought to replace the elevated rail line of airport to metro, finally replaced this plan by underground strench around airport, only for visual hampering.

The best solution is underground metro with 3rd rail.

NAGPUR is the 3rd biggest city of Maharashtra. So I think, like Pune, Nagpur should also get a good metro. It is a big city, along with a very big and important rail junction.

[aam admi]

Originally Posted by Ashis Mitra

Although it is costlier, but underground metro is the best solution. Far less land aquisition, and no question of visual hampering.

Even the proposed line 4 & 6 of Kolkata metro, which earlier thought to replace the elevated rail line of airport to metro, finally replaced this plan by underground strench around airport, only for visual hampering.

The best solution is underground metro with 3rd rail.

NAGPUR is the 3rd biggest city of Maharashtra. So I think, like Pune, Nagpur should also get a good metro. It is a big city, along with a very big and important rail junction.

Cost is the biggest disadvantage with UG metro. When we are getting the same service what is need to spend more on underground. We are not a rich nation to spend millions just for the sake of visual asthetics. Better urban transport is the need of hour and it should be constructed at most economical way and ASAp. The futile discussion of UG and elevated has been started by mostly retired IR bureaucrates who are jealous of DMRC and oppose any proposal put forward by it.
Same type of interference is there is Kolkata where IR loby is strong and it has resultant in delay of East West line. Just to outsmart DMRC these people have illadvised Mamata to go for metro under IR even after disatrous project inplementation of old metro. those projects are not progressing well. There is no fund tie up, no DPR, no competant agency implementing project etc.
Pune should be aware of the wasted interest and implement fast the much needed metro project without going in the debate further.

[Indtrans]

Originally Posted by aam admi

Cost is the biggest disadvantage with UG metro. When we are getting the same service what is need to spend more on underground. We are not a rich nation to spend millions just for the sake of visual asthetics. Better urban transport is the need of hour and it should be constructed at most economical way and ASAp. The futile discussion of UG and elevated has been started by mostly retired IR bureaucrates who are jealous of DMRC and oppose any proposal put forward by it.
Same type of interference is there is Kolkata where IR loby is strong and it has resultant in delay of East West line. Just to outsmart DMRC these people have illadvised Mamata to go for metro under IR even after disatrous project inplementation of old metro. those projects are not progressing well. There is no fund tie up, no DPR, no competant agency implementing project etc.
Pune should be aware of the wasted interest and implement fast the much needed metro project without going in the debate further.

You are right. Its already late for the project.

[dibdigc]

Originally Posted by Ashis Mitra

Although it is costlier, but underground metro is the best solution. Far less land aquisition, and no question of visual hampering.

Even the proposed line 4 & 6 of Kolkata metro, which earlier thought to replace the elevated rail line of airport to metro, finally replaced this plan by underground strench around airport, only for visual hampering.

The best solution is underground metro with 3rd rail.

NAGPUR is the 3rd biggest city of Maharashtra. So I think, like Pune, Nagpur should also get a good metro. It is a big city, along with a very big and important rail junction.

Exactly....
Even though top-5-6 cities with higher population densities can think of underground metro where it is required, for smaller cities like Pune, the important feature should be coverage throughout, not spend too much money on UG metro

But having said that, cities like Mumbai should think of having high percentage UG metro..because its the business hub of our country..its worth to spend a few extra bucks out there

[Ashis Mitra]

Thanks to all for continuing discusson.

[Indianempire]

Originally Posted by dibdigc

Exactly....
Even though top-5-6 cities with higher population densities can think of underground metro where it is required, for smaller cities like Pune, the important feature should be coverage throughout, not spend too much money on UG metro

But having said that, cities like Mumbai should think of having high percentage UG metro..because its the business hub of our country..its worth to spend a few extra bucks out there

I somewhat believe that ... but on the other hand pune is bound to be a major player in the next 10-15 years and thus the population of migrant skilled people will ris exponentially... so, I think it is very good if they think for u/g metro

[dibdigc]

Originally Posted by Indianempire

I somewhat believe that ... but on the other hand pune is bound to be a major player in the next 10-15 years and thus the population of migrant skilled people will ris exponentially... so, I think it is very good if they think for u/g metro

There is no denying the fact that u/g is better than elevated..
but,like pune there are around a dozen of cities which are planning and deserve a metro. So, if every city start demanding u/g metro, i dont think that will be financially viable for the govt. Atleast the first 2 phase of development should be elevated, and then, considering our economy and growth of that particular city, they can plan new u/g metro routes

[UrbanQuest]

I am quite tired of this debate after debate that we have in India. This project was conceived way back in 2005-06 and we have not seen any movement on this. All we have had is report after report, recommendation after recommendation study after study and debate after debate. Every other two months the newspapers carry fancy photographs of metro trains the world over and a colour picture of the multiple lines that will apparently come up in Pune.

It's time we started working on projects than just debating. Take a look at the Chinese; in the time that we take to decide a project, they go and build and operationalize it too. And lest we forget, the British & French built these lines way back about a 100 years ago; and here we sit around a table and keep talking and debating whether UG is better or elevated!!!

I frankly don't care anymore whether UG is better or elevated is better. I just want to see the work started and then finished in a reasonable time frame.

[Indtrans]

Originally Posted by UrbanQuest

I am quite tired of this debate after debate that we have in India. This project was conceived way back in 2005-06 and we have not seen any movement on this. All we have had is report after report, recommendation after recommendation study after study and debate after debate. Every other two months the newspapers carry fancy photographs of metro trains the world over and a colour picture of the multiple lines that will apparently come up in Pune.

It's time we started working on projects than just debating. Take a look at the Chinese; in the time that we take to decide a project, they go and build and operationalize it too. And lest we forget, the British & French built these lines way back about a 100 years ago; and here we sit around a table and keep talking and debating whether UG is better or elevated!!!

I frankly don't care anymore whether UG is better or elevated is better. I just want to see the work started and then finished in a reasonable time frame.

Many people in city think the same as you.

[World8115]

Centre has okayed Pune metro in principle: CM

Source: TOI

The state government is moving ahead with the metro project as Union urban development (UD) minister Kamal Nath has 'in principle' approved its implementation and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has submitted its technical report, Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said here on Thursday.

The development comes close on the heels of the Union UD ministry deciding to consider metros in cities with population above 20 lakh. "I have discussed the project with Kamal Nath. He has in principle agreed for the metro projects in Pune and Nagpur. The state government has also received the technical report from the DMRC," Chavan said during a function.

"Metro is the need for a growing city like Pune. The DMRC report has technical details and the required engineering and technicalities and finalisation of the financial model are being discussed. We are looking at the possibility of floating a separate company to implement the project," the CM said.