The Times of India             27.09.2013

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's BRT route to link Nigdi with e-way

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has planned a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route between Nigdi and Kiwale, thus taking the number of BRTS routes in Pimpri Chinchwad to five.

The proposed 5-km route will provide link between Pimpri Chinchwad city and the Pune-end of the Mumbai-Pune expressway. This BRT will be funded completely by the PCMC, unlike four others which are being completed under the JNNURM using central and state government funds.

PCMC executive engineer Shrikant Savane said, "The construction of the 5.4 km corridor will cost around Rs 180 crore. The route is divided into two parts - Bhakti Shakti chowk to Sector 23 in Nigdi and Sector 23 to Kiwale. It will cross the Pune-Lonavla railway line. The width of the road will be 45 meters."

A 12,00 metre-long railway over bridge will be built at Ravet near Nisarga darshan housing society for which the PCMC will need the permission of the railways.

About funding required for the project, Savane said there is a provision of Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 crore in the annual budget. The engineering department will soon table a proposal before the City Improvement Committee (CIC) to get administrative approval for the project.

"The civic body possesses 60% of the total land needed for the construction of this road. It will acquire the remaining land soon," said Savane.

The PCMC has already started work along the Mumbai-Pune highway stretch of the Nigdi-Dapodi BRT. Civic officials said the Nigdi-Kiwale BRT will provide an important link for improving connectivity in and around the city.