Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar metro line: Maharashtra Govt. approves transit-oriented development zone
Shikha Chaurasia
Pune, July 7, 2020: The Maharashtra government has approved the transit-oriented development (TOD) zone for a metro line which will connect Hinjawadi to Shivajinagar. The government has sought suggestions or any kind of objections from the residents.
Earlier the State Government had approved the TOD zones for metro lines from Pimpri Chinchwad to Swargate and from Vanaz to Ramwadi.
500 square metre area from the metro station has been declared as the TOD zone. Under this zone, developers are allowed to expand population density by putting additional floor space index (FSI) to use. Expansion up to four FSI is allowed under the TOD zone.
In an earlier plan, it was discussed to approve additional FSI on both sides of the metro corridor. But the state decided to approve the TOD zone from 500 square metre radius of the metro station.
PMC city engineer Prashant Waghmare said that the metro lines are distributed. Some part of Balewadi-Hinjewadi metro line falls under Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and majority part of Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar line falls under PMC. The revenue generated through these metro corridors will be shared by both the organizations. This revenue will be used for the development of the metro and any other transport-related projects. With the decision of approval of the TOD zone, both the organizations will generate more revenue through premiums for additional construction, reported Hindustan Times newspaper.
Many NGOs are unhappy with the decision of approval of an additional four FSI. They think that the decision of improving public transport will result in an increase in population in the city. This will pose a problem in the future and will become a burden on the infrastructure of the city.
