Pune Metro Project Sees Rs 2,000 Crore Increase in Cost, Receives State Government Approval
Pune, 5th January 2024: The Maharashtra state government has given its nod to an additional Rs 2,000 crore for the Pune metro project, citing changes in the metro station locations, delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and escalated costs of land acquisition. This approval not only facilitates the state government’s contribution to the increased expenditure but also streamlines the process of sending proposals to the central government for their share.
The responsibility for executing the metro project between Vanaj to Ramwadi and Pimpri to Shivajinagar in Pune city rests with ‘Mahametro.’ Initially estimated at around Rs 11,420 crore, the cost of the metro project has surged by approximately Rs 2,000 crore due to unforeseen factors like the pandemic and increased land acquisition expenses.
A proposal seeking approval for this augmented cost was submitted to the state government by ‘Mahametro,’ and after a brief period of deliberation, it received the green light. This development clears the way for securing the state government’s share of the escalated expenditure.
The next step involves forwarding this proposal to the central government through the state. Once the central government provides its approval, the specific amount of the Centre’s share will be determined.
Simultaneously, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar chaired a meeting of the ‘Deputy Chief Minister’s Project Monitoring Unit’ in Mumbai on Thursday. The gathering focused on reviewing the progress of works related to Metro Lines 1, 2, and 3.
A pedestrian flyover is slated for construction at Raj Bhavan on the Shivajinagar-Hinjawadi metro line to enhance safety. To uphold the safety standards of the Raj Bhavan area, the decision was made to construct it using steel and cement. Furthermore, the State Government and Central Government have already granted approval for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Station to Nigdi route.
In the meeting, it was highlighted that the draft of the tripartite agreement between Mahametro, the State Government, and the Central Government has been sent from the Central Government to the State Government, and its approval is imminent.
The meeting also included a review of the progress of various projects, such as the construction of Pune Bypass Road, Pune Nashik High-Speed Railway, ‘Sarathi’ organization headquarters, divisional sub-centers of ‘Sarathi’ in Aundh, Nashik, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Amravati, Krishi Bhavan, Kamgar Kalyan Bhavan, Sahakar Bhavan, Registration Bhavan, Indrayani Medici, among others.
