The Indian Express             19.12.2013

PMC nod to include seven villages including Wagholi under city limits

THE boundaries of Pune city are all set to extend further with elected representatives in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) giving their consent for including Wagholi village on Pune-Nagar Road in addition to proposed six villages to be merged to civic jurisdiction.

In October 2012, the state government had notified its aim to include 28 villages in the PMC jurisdiction. Later, the government received demand for adding six more villages to the list, for which it sought the opinion of the civic body. These villages were Nandoshi, Mangdewadi, Bhilarewadi, Gujar Nimbalkarwadi, Jambhulwadi and Kolewadi.

Accordingly, the civic administration while giving its favourable response tabled a proposal of merging six more villages in PMC. The proposal to include Wagholi village in list of villages to be merged in PMC was tabled by Shiv Sena corporator Sachin Bhagat, citing rapid urbanisation in the area. "The development in Wagholi is very fast and there has to be a system in place to ensure proper development which can be done if it is included in civic jurisdiction," he said.

There was debate over inclusion of more villages in the PMC area with the Congress and MNS opposing it, saying the civic body is unable to meet basic demands of citizens in the present situation and adding more villages would further add to the problem. The NCP with the help of Shiv Sena and BJP got the proposal approved with majority vote.

Earlier, the civic administration while giving its favourable opinion said the villages were geographically located adjoining to the area earlier proposed to be merged in the civic jurisdiction and hence could be added to the list of 28 villages that are in process of being included in PMC limit.

It clarified that bringing more villages under PMC limits is going to put pressure on existing civic facilities and so there should be financial aid to develop infrastructure and meet the demand for civic facilities in the newly proposed areas. Also, the strength of civic staff should be increased to strengthen civic facilities in the new areas and there should be an increase in water quota for the city, said civic administration.

In 1997, when Shiv Sena-BJP combine was in power in the state, the PMC had decided to include 38 villages in its jurisdiction keeping in mind the rapid urbanisation. However, 15 villages were dropped from the list following opposition from villagers.

The Times of India            12.12.2013

State nod for JNNURM projects worth Rs 1,100 crore

KOCHI: The state-level steering committee, headed by chief minister Oommen Chandy, approved projects worth Rs 1,100-crore on Wednesday to avail funds under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. Mayor Tony Chammany said, "Projects can be completed on time as they don't require land acquisition if approval is given. The projects are likely to be submitted by the end of December for central government approval."

The seven projects submitted by Kochi corporation include pedestrian-friendly urban transport system for eight city roads, surface water drainage system in east Kochi, betterment of surface water drainage in west Kochi, improvement of inland water transport system, urban infrastructure development, project to revamp Broadway and the renewal of Ernakulam market's core area.

The Rs 55.1-crore project for pedestrian-friendly urban transport system comprises pedestrian walkways, crosswalk facilities, landscaping of central dividers and traffic islands as well as the construction of foot overbridge at three locations.

Roads where pedestrian friendly facility will be improved are: Shanmugham Road, Park Avenue Road, Foreshore Road, MG Road, Chittoor Road, Banerjee Road, Sahodaran Ayyappan Road and Durbar Hall Road.

The Rs 40-crore project for surface water drainage in east Kochi includes upgradation of drainage along the west side of Stadium Link Road, construction of culverts on Subhash Chandra Bose Road and Thevara-Perandoor Canal. West Kochi canals will be improved through a Rs 50-crore project. The Rs 32.68-crore project for urban infrastructure development will develop Chambakkara, Pachalam, Thoppumpady, Polakandam, Amaravathy, Koovapadam and Pattalam markets. While the estimated cost of Broadway's renovation project is Rs 25 crore, Rs 15 crore has been set aside for the renovation of Ernakulam market zone.

Kochi's corporation said that the committee has also approved a Rs 20-crore project to install energy efficient lights in the city. With the implementation of the project, all sodium vapour lamps in the city will be replaced by energy efficient lights, said corporation authorities.