Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Urban Transportation

PMPML eyes civic octroi buildings for bus depots, parking bays

Wednesday, 27 March 2013 06:56 administrator
Print PDF

The Indian Express                      27.03.2013 

PMPML eyes civic octroi buildings for bus depots, parking bays

Even as Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations gear up to implement the new Local Body Tax (LBT) from April 1, civic bodies have the task of deciding the fate of octroi staff and the infrastructure set up over the years to collect octroi. While officials said they would shift octroi staff to other departments, they are yet to take a call on infrastructure at their disposal that will be idle from April 1.

The management of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML), the city's transport service, has already "staked claim" to the octroi posts. PMPML, struggling to get space at cheaper rate to set up bus depots, termni or parking bays, wants both civic bodies to transfer the properties to them.

"PMC has as many as 41 octroi posts, but proper infrastructure that includes a building is available only at six," said PMC octroi chief Vilas Kanade. "PCMC has nearly 30 octroi posts but proper infrastructure is in place only at four," said PCMC octroi chief Ashok Munde. PMC has 650 octroi employees who worked at various octroi posts in Pune city. "All of them will be absorbed in other civic departments," said Kanade. Munde said the 450 PCMC octroi employees will be transferred to other departments.

When contacted, PCMC Municipal Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi said PMPML has approached them seeking octroi buildings for setting up bus depots or termini. "We have no problem if it will help them set up facilities for commuter conveniences or parking buses. But it will have to be approved by civic body members. We will place the proposal in the civic general body meeting," he said.

Incidentally, both the commissioners and mayors of PCMC and PMC are on the board of directors of PMPML and officials said this could help the transport body to get the properties transferred without much convincing.

PMPML spokesperson Deepak Pardeshi said if both civic bodies agree, the octroi properties which are at convenient locations will be of great help to PMPML. "We are struggling to set up facilities due to lack of funds. If these octroi posts are transferred to us, we can set up termini," he said.

Significantly, he said, these octroi properties could also find use as CNG pumps or parking bays. "The rising cost of fuel has hurt our expansion plans. If PMC and PCMC help us out, it will benefit the bus service in a big way," he said.

PMPML officials said they were certain PMC and PCMC would transfer the properties to them free of cost.

However, Jugal Rathi of PMP Pravasi Manch said PMC and PCMC should transfer the octroi properties only with certain conditions. "The primary condition is that PMPML will not hike fares for two-three years. This is logical since PMPML will be getting properties worth crores for free. We would urge PMC and PCMC to take it in writing from PMPML that it will not hike fares and will use the premises appropriately," he said.

 

After Sena objects, PCMC says will seek expert help for BRTS planning

Sunday, 24 March 2013 00:00 administrator
Print PDF

The Indian Express                        24.03.2013

After Sena objects, PCMC says will seek expert help for BRTS planning

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi has said that the civic administration will take all necessary steps to ensure the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) being implemented in the industrial town is safe for public.

The PCMC has stepped forward to assure citizens after the Pimpri Chinchwad Shiv Sena unit recently pointed out several flaws in BRTS implementation on the Pune-Mumbai highway the party said could cause accidents. Pardeshi in his budget for the 2013-14 had announced that BRTS on at least two routes will be made operational from January next year.

"We have taken note of the flaws pointed out by the Sena. We will take all steps to ensure safety of passengers. The BRTS is being implemented as per international standards and therefore we will seek advice from top experts to put in place an effective BRTS," he said. The PCMC is implementing BRTS on four routes. Shiv Sena leaders Seema Savale and Sarang Kamtekar recently in an audio-visual presentation discussed the proposed BRTS route on the 12-km Nigdi-Dapodi stretch on the Pune-Mumbai highway. They demanded that the civic body carry out a feasibility study before implementing the project.

They said the BRTS buses run through the middle of the roads on dedicated lanes in Ahmedabad as well as other cities of the world like Jakarta, Bogota and Istanbul. But PCMC plans to run the BRTS service on dedicated lanes sandwiched between central lanes and the service road.

Kamtekar said PCMC has provided many points where vehicles can join central lanes from the service road, and also exit central lanes to join the service road. In the process, vehicles will have to cross the dedicated BRTS lanes, resulting in accidents. "PCMC has provided many underpasses to connect the service roads on both sides of the highway. If a vehicle, moving on a service road on one side of the highway has to go to the other side it will have to cross the BRTS lane. This will again lead to major accidents," he said.

Kamtekar said that the surveys conducted by the PCMC have not considered the number and type of private vehicles that ply on the highway. He said a detailed survey should be conducted to ascertain the number and type of private vehicles plying on service roads and central lanes of the highway.

"A safety audit must be conducted by organisations such as the Central Road Research Institute or Central Institute of Road Transport before implementing the project. A feasibility study must be conducted to ascertain effectiveness and need of BRTS on the highway by any of the above government organisations," Savale said.

Kamtekar said, "If PCMC fails to ensure safety, the Sena will launch an agitation or approach courts to prevent loss of lives of commuters."

 

Government to sanction Rs 25 lakh for renovation of roads

Friday, 15 March 2013 11:05 administrator
Print PDF

The New Indian Express                      15.03.2013

Government to sanction Rs 25 lakh for renovation of roads

The State Government will sanction Rs 25 lakh for the renovation of roads near Beemapally Dargah Shareef, Health Minister V S Sivakumar said on Thursday.

Curtains go up this year for the famed ‘Uroos’ at the Dargah Shareef on April 12 and it will be on till April 22. The Minister, who chaired a meeting here to review the arrangements for the annual festival, said that police and Fire and Rescue Personnel will be in strength at the venue to ensure the safety of the faithful. The police will also open a control room at the festival venue and operate round-the-clock surveillance.

Traffic flow in and around Valiyathura, Cheriyathura, Beemapally and Poonthura will be regulated during the festival days. The City Corporation will spearhead a cleaning drive in the area ahead of the festival. Renovation of the Corporation roads here will be completed by March 31. Instructions have been given to clean the drains along the Beemapally-Poonthura Road in a week’s time. The Health Department will operate a 24-hour mobile clinic and an ambulance service specially for the festival.

Arrangements are being made to ensure proper lighting and streamline bus services in the area, the Minister said.

Also, the government would see that it is not caught on the wrong foot vis a vis water supply during the festival days. The Corporation and the Water Resources Department will arrange 15 reservoirs to ensure adequate water supply. Multiple pipe-bursts on the eve of the Attukal Pongala had left the government scrambling for making alternative arrangements on Pongala day.

 
More Articles...


Page 43 of 146