Pune’s Metro Vision: PMRDA Initiates Economic Feasibility Study for Key Routes
Pune, 20th September 2023: Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Mahametro) have jointly submitted project development plans for the construction of metro lines that run in parallel. With the aim of streamlining the development process and ensuring economic viability, it has been decided that a single organization will oversee these converging routes. To ascertain the profitability of these metro lines, PMRDA has taken the initiative to appoint a consultant. The decision regarding which organization will undertake the construction of these lines will be based on the findings of this report.
PMRDA has proposed metro routes connecting Shivajinagar to Lonikalbhor and Swargate to Saswad. The project development plans for these lines were prepared in consultation with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Mahametro, on the other hand, has proposed the Khadakwasla to Kharadi route, which encompasses stages from Khadakwasla to Swargate, Swargate to Hadapsar, Hadapsar to Kharadi, and Hadapsar to Loni Kalbhor. The project development plan for this route was created by a private consultancy firm. Both organizations have submitted their respective project development plans to the Municipal Corporation.
It’s noteworthy that the proposed metro routes of PMRDA and Mahametro share commonalities, particularly up to Swargate-Poolgate-Hadapsar, and both extend to Loni Kalbhor. Consequently, both entities have outlined similar plans for these routes.
In a Pune Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (PUMTA) meeting, divisional commissioners recommended that a single organization should oversee the converging metro routes. PMRDA was advised to appoint a consultant to evaluate the economic feasibility of this venture, with the potential for Public Private Partnership (PPP) involvement. PMRDA has since taken steps to appoint a consultant tasked with assessing the financial viability of the metro lines and exploring additional revenue sources.
Atul Gadgil, Director (Works), Mahametro, explained, “Project development plans for two similar metro lines were prepared by Mahametro and PMRDA. It was decided that only one organization will do this work in the PUMTA meeting. PMRDA will decide to undertake this work after checking the financial feasibility. If they don’t do it, Mahametro will do it.”
The proposal suggests that Mahametro should take charge of the metro line from Swargate to Pulgate, extending it from Ramwadi to Magarpatta. PMRDA would then be responsible for the metro lines to Loni Kalbhor and Saswad. The appointment of a consultant is essential to determine the financial viability of these routes, and a final decision will be made accordingly.
Rinaj Pathan, Superintending Engineer, PMRDA, emphasized, “Financial feasibility of these routes will be checked by appointing a consultant. Only then will the final decision be taken.”
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