PUNE: The much awaited Pune Metro rail project has inched forward with the civic body approving the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to be forwarded to the State and Central Government for its clearance.

With NCP, Congress, Shiv Sena and MNS supporting the proposal which envisages a 31.59-km-long metro line going through underground and elevated rails, the civic administration is now faced with the task of funding the project which is estimated to cost R s 6,000 crore in its first phase.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), which hopes to complete the first phase comprising two corridors connecting travel points in Mumbai by 2014-15, will be confronted with the recommended freezing of all developmental work along the proposed routes neg otiating densely populated areas.

While tabling the proposal before PMC general body for clearance, the Municipal Commissioner, Mr Mahesh Zagde, told the House that 40 per cent of the project cost could be covered with the State and Central Government contributions while 30 per cent coul d be expected from market borrowings in addition to additional mopping by way of taxes.

Modelled on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is to set up a company to be named Pune Metro Rail Project Ltd (PMRC) under the Special Purpose Vehicle Company Act to implement the project.

Under the proposed routes, the corridor one is planned from neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad industrial township to Swargate in the main city which will have 5-km underground and 11-km elevated rails. The 16-km route will be dotted with nine elevated and si x underground stations.

The second corridor of the proposed Metro will have only elevated route of nearly 15 km with 15 stations covering the area from Vanaz to Ramwadi.

According to the DPR “for the implementation of the corridor one and two of the metro, the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations should take approval from the State Cabinet.”

The next step is approval from the Union Ministry of Urban Development, Planning Commission and Finance Ministry with a request for financial participation through equity contribution to be followed by signing of an MoU between the State and the Centre.

If the project gets through all the intricate technicalities and formalities needed for its implementation, this burgeoning city — the country’s auto and IT hub as well as the political and cultural nerve centre of Maharashtra — stands to gain a lot for its over 40 lakh population, confronted with a chaotic road traffic scenario.

Among the listed advantages are reduction in energy consumption compared to road based transport system, drop in air and noise pollution and cutting short journey time by 50 to 75 per cent. — PTI

Pune: If everything moves as planned, then Pune could have a new Metro transport system by 2014 and end the woes of citizens’ and perk up the city’s pitiable public transport infrastructure. Pune could join Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai on the Metro Rail map soon with the proposed Rs 9,500 crore Pune Metro rail project.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), consultants to the project, has presented the detailed project report for the project to the Pune Municipal Corporation. E Sreedharan, MD of DMRC, was in Pune on Tuesday to give a detailed presentation on the proposed Pune Metro to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

Sreedharan urged the Pune civic body to invest in the project on its own and raise funds through debt for the project. DMRC has recommended floating of SPV vested with adequate powers for the Pune Metro project. For funding the project, DMRC has suggested that the model used by DMRC in Delhi was best suited for Pune and PPP and BOT would not work here. He said equity from central government and the Maharashtra state government contribution 20 % to the Metro. A 40% grant from the government would bring in Rs 3,814 crore, 33% of the cost would be funded through loans of Rs 3,118 crore and remaining could come from the property development along the route.

The Asian Development Bank and agencies in Japan could be tapped for funding debt. Sreedharan also suggested additional revenue generation measures—an increase in the FSI along the Metro corridor, a ‘Metro Cess’ on fuel sold in the city, entry tax for CVs, additional levy on new vehicle registration.

The first 31 km phase would have two corridors –a 16.58 km distance between Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and Swargate and 14.92 km between Vanaz and Ramvadi. About 26 kms would be on elevated platform and six of the 30 stations would be underground. The second phase would be for 44 kms with four corridors. The government would need to acquire 44.75 hectares for the project. Sreedharan has suggested Pune opt for the standard gauge instead of the broad gauge.

Now the proposal has to be cleared by the PMC and then submitted to the state and union government for approvals.