Pune Deputy CM Ajit Pawar told the officials not to implement the neo-metro project in Pune till the execution of a similar project might be in Nashik.
He was examining the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed neo-metro project on the 36 km stretch of high capacity mass transit route (HCMTR) presented by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro). Director of Maha Metro, Atul Gadgil, said that it had presented the DPR of 82.5 km Phase 2 Maha Metro project. It consists of one neo-metro line of HCMTR. Maha Metro is already working on the 32 km Nashik metro neo project after getting in-principle approval from the government. This metro rail project is the first of its kind in India. The expected cost of the Nashik metro project is around Rs 2,100 crore, compared to Rs 8,000 crore if it builds a rail-based metro. The 82.5 km Phase 2 corridor connects Vanaz to Chandani chowk, Ramwadi to Wagholi, Hadapsar to Kharadi, Swargate to Hadapsar, Khadakwasla to Swargate, SNDT to Warje, and HCMTR in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). PMC had already prepared the plan for the HCMTR metro project. The project still has not started due to a lack of land acquisition and financial difficulties. Pawar reviewed the project, and the option of neo-metro on the HCMTR route was considered and instructed Maha Metro to prepare a DPR. Although Maha Metro has prepared the DPR, CM suggested that the final decision be taken after the municipal elections. Image Source
