This story is from October 20, 2016

Extend metro route till Nigdi in first phase: Pimpri forum

The Pimpri Chinchwad Citizens Forum (PCCF) has demanded that the Swargate-Pimpri metro route must be extended till Nigdi in the first phase itself to benefit more citizens.
Extend metro route till Nigdi in first phase: Pimpri forum
Pimpri Chinchwad: The Pimpri Chinchwad Citizens Forum (PCCF) has demanded that the Swargate-Pimpri metro route must be extended till Nigdi in the first phase itself to benefit more citizens.
It has also appealed to citizens to support this demand by signing an online petition at https://goo.gl/kDKV9I. It would then be sent to the Union and state governments.
Stressing on the need for the metro extension till Nigdi, PCCF city infrastructure convenor Bilwa Deo said, "Nigdi is strategically located at the centre of areas starting from Chakan-Talegaon industrial belt, Talawade-Hinjewadi IT park and Chinchwad-Bhosari-Pimpri industrial belt.
If metro starts from Pimpri, areas like Chinchwad, Akurdi and Nigdi in Pimpri Chinchwad city will be affected. Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited(PMPML) shows that nearly 70% of commuters travel daily from these areas to Pune for jobs, education and other purposes. The Nigdi-Tilak Chowk average bus occupancy is over 150% in peak hours and more than 70% at other times. Moreover, people from adjacent towns like Dehu Road and Talegaon, who work in and around Pune can come to Nigdi by PMPML buses or private vehicles and catch a metro at Nigdi."
Tushar Shinde, another city infrastructure convenor for PCCF, said, "Nigdi is at the centre of major roads in Pimpri Chinchwad. So people from different parts can come to Nigdi for a metro to Pune city. PCMC will soon start BRT service on the Nigdi-Dapodi stretch of the Pune-Mumbai highway."
Rajeev Bhavsar, convenor, environment, PCCF, said, "The chief minister in 2015 had agreed for plans to extend the metro till Nigdi. But now the extension plans are being ignored. This is not the only injustice meted to Pimpri Chinchwad. Due to the absence of political will in recent past, PCMC was not included in the Smart Cities project despite fulfilling all requirements."
Vaibhav Ghuge, convenor of social awareness and governance in PCCF, said, "PCCF has started a facility of online petition for citizens to put forth our demands to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, district guardian minister Girish Bapat and PCMC municipal commissioner Dinesh Waghmare."
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