PUNE: Notwithstanding the objections raised against the proposed elevated metro route from Vanaz to Ramwadi, the ruling parties in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Wednesday categorically stated that the general body (GB) will approve the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) plan for an elevated metro without any amendments.

The plan of building a metro railway on the proposed 14.925 km metro corridor from Vanaz to Ramwadi is on the GB agenda and was to be taken up on Wednesday. However, the GB was adjourned after paying homage to former vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. The opposition parties, including the BJP and the Shiv Sena, demanded that the metro proposal should be postponed by a month. However, the ruling NCP decided to take up the matter on June 5.

"We are firm on our stand that the metro proposal will be approved by the GB without any amendments. The DMRC has tabled a detailed proposal and all parties have already approved it in the standing committee. The opposition parties wanted some time to discuss the proposal with their leaders and hence we have decided to take up the matter on June 5," senior NCP member and leader of the house in the PMC, Nilesh Nikam, said.

Nikam said that the objections raised by some groups will be taken into consideration. "We will forward these objections to the DMRC and get responses. We will take everyone into confidence. However, there will be no amendment in the DPR at this stage and the metro proposal will be approved in its existing form," Nikam said.

Arvind Shinde, Congress leader and standing committee chairman, stated, "The Congress supports the metro project and we will go ahead with the proposed elevated metro as suggested by the DMRC. We are confident that the plan will be approved unanimously next month."

Some organisations, including the Pune Metro Jagruti Abhiyaan (PMJA), the Pune Technical Coalition Committee (PTCC) and Janwani, on Wednesday held an agitation at the PMC gates, demanding that the proposal should not be approved in its present form.

The DMRC has suggested execution of the project on two corridors. The first corridor runs from the PCMC building to Swargate, while the second from Vanaz to Ramwadi. The first corridor will run within both PMC and PCMC limits. PMC members have alleged that the PCMC is dragging its feet on the project and the PMC should go ahead with the phase II corridor running only within its limits.

Phase II will cost Rs 2,281 (including taxes), of which the PMC will contribute 10%, the state and the Centre will pitch in 40% and the rest will come from private players.

The standing committee has already resolved that the metro corridor be extended to Kharadi/Chandannagar as per convenience and availability of funds. It also decided to appoint a special officer to co-ordinate the project.

Chugging along

Corridor 1: PCMC to Swargate

Underground: 5.019 km

Elevated: 11.570 km

Total: 16.589 km

Stations: Nine elevated and six underground

Status: Put on hold by the PMC

Corridor 2: Vanaz to Ramwadi

Underground: Nil

Elevated: 14.925 km

Stations: 15 elevated ones

Status: PMC standing committee has approved the project. The proposal has now been forwarded to the GB for approval and will come up for discussion on June 5.