The New Indian Express             10.12.2013

The Indian Express                09.12.2013

Civic body’s grand plan: To spend Rs 88,443 cr by 2041 for city makeover

Going by the plans of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the city seems to be gearing up to establish itself among the top cities of the country with infrastructure that would cater to civic demands.

Though on paper, the City Development Plan (CDP) till 2041 being submitted to Union government under JNNURM provides hope of getting things right as compared to the existing dismal situation regarding traffic, water, sewage treatment or solid waste management.

In the CDP draft, which estimates the implementation cost to Rs 88,443 crore to meet civic demands as per the population estimate till 2041, the PMC has proposed a makeover of the city while reviving its historical importance.

"The strength, weakness, opportunity and threats have been studied for preparing city development plan of 30 years. This will be a reference for the civic body to create a modern city that meets the demand of the public," said Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak in the CDP proposal.

For improving the city roads, traffic and transportation, the cost is estimated to be Rs 13,530 crore. This includes construction of 34 new flyovers, railway over bridges or bridges and three tunnels and construction of new roads of 64.80 lakh sq metre and widening of 32 lakh sq metre area for existing roads.

It proposes to take up work for most flyovers and bridges by 2021, which includes ongoing work at the Engineering college, Dhayari, Balajinagar. The projects yet to start are flyover at Panmala Chowk, Lulla Nagar, Kharadi-Muhdwa bypass, Gunjan Chowk, Alandi Road, Vishranwadi Chowk, Karve Statute on Karve Road, underpass at Bopodi, Balewadi-Sangvi connecting road, widening of Sus Bridge, Aundh Sangvi bBridge, Blue Diamond Bridge and Mundhwa river bridge.

By 2031, the PMC plans to construct flyovers at Satara road-Padmavati, Kalyaninagar Chowk, Tadigutta Chowk, Aundh Ward Office Chowk, Ambdekar Chowk, ARAI and Simla Office Chowk while before 2041 on its agenda is redevelopment of Chandni Chowk by spending Rs 100 crore, railway overbridge at Mundhwa and Hadapsar, flyover at Saswad and underpass at Katraj Chowk.

The three tunnels from Gokhale Nagar to Pashan to Paud rRoad, Taljainagar to Vadgaon and Sahakrnagar to Sinhagad Road are planned by 2031 to ease the traffic flow.

The PMC has also taken care of pedestrian needs by proposing 14 pedestrian subways and skywalks across the city along with improvement of 19 lakh sq metre of footpath. The subways are planned at Goodluck Chowk, Alka Talkies Chowk, Swargate, University Road, Sambhaji Garden, Shanipar Chowk, Wadia College, MIT College, Gokhale Institute, Jehangir Hospital, Shivajinagar Railway Station, Baner Balewadi Phata and near Mangala Theatre. It will also take the development of new 9.7 lakh sq metre cycle track in phases.

For effective public transport, it would buy over 10,000 buses and construct new 1,000 bus stops while starting BRTS on 101 km route including Banglore Mumbai bypass from Hinjewadi to Katraj, Pashan-Sus Road and proposed ring road. It has 95 parking bays planned and development of nine bus stations. It has put construction of 34 km ring road and 77 km of metro rail in special projects category that would resolve in public transport and traffic issue of city.