Mass protest against proposed HCMTR at Pune University circle

Pune, November 23, 2019: This morning around a thousand Punekars, from all over the city came together at the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) circle to protest against the proposed mega project the HCMTR, which they feel will be disastrous for the city. The High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) encircles a large part of the cities of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Present were representatives from various affected societies along the alignment – from Bopodi, Chatushringi, Kelewadi, Karvenagar, Navsahayadri, NIBM road, Vadgaon Sheri and Viman nagar, students and alumni from Law College and Vamnicom as well as hundreds of others who want a sustainable model of development for Pune, one that does not come at the cost of Pune’s remaining green cover.

According to protestors, the HCMTR project goes against the National Urban Transport Policy and Pune’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan, which recommend discouraging private vehicles and shifting people towards public transport. The proposed HCMTR project is completely opposed to all modern traffic policies. The PMC should upgrade Pune’s bus system, fix the BRTS mess and focus on encouraging ridership on the Metro.

The people had gathered under aegis of HCMTR Nagrik Kruti Samiti (NKS) which is a platform by the citizens to raise awareness on HCMTR project. The project affects thousands of families and livelihoods in the city and compromises the non-renewable natural heritage of the city. The group includes citizens who are directly affected by the project as well as those who oppose it on environmental grounds.

Starting from the gate of the Chatushringi temple, hundreds of protesters marched towards University circle where a human chain was formed for two hours.

They demanded that the HCMTR be scrapped for the following reasons

1. Hundreds of existing buildings will need to be demolished by the HCMTR – thousands of families will lose their homes and livelihoods as alignment cuts through densely built up area.

2. How can an outdated alignment based on a 1982 study be relevant for 2019 when the city has grown, and traffic flows have drastically changed?

3. Heavy vehicles will enter the heart of the city instead of bypassing it, causing massive increase in air and noise pollution. For people living along the alignment, their homes will become gas chambers. Does Pune want to go the Delhi way?

4. The estimated cost exceeds Rs 8500 crores which will put Pune in a debt trap. Since the State Govt has categorically refused to fund or stand guarantor for this project, the burden will fall on Punekars in the form of higher taxes.

5. The HCMTR will cut through and destroy 3 tekdis and the forests on them. More than 3000 trees will be axed. The damage to nallahs and streams along which it is aligned and to the aquifers in the tekdis will be permanent.

6. The HCMTR was approved in DP as a rail-based route, but two thirds of it is now earmarked for private four wheelers and heavy goods transport vehicles – which goes against all principles of sustainable development