This story is from March 1, 2015

Pune gets Rs 126 crore for metro

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday made a provision of Rs126.58 crore in the 2015-16 Budget for the much-delayed Pune metro rail project, which has the city hopeful of getting a major share in the infrastructure funds of the Centre. The collective cost of the various infrastructure projects that need to be undertaken in Pune is pegged at Rs 25,806 crore over the next 20 years.
Pune gets Rs 126 crore for metro
PUNE: Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday made a provision of Rs126.58 crore in the 2015-16 Budget for the much-delayed Pune metro rail project, which has the city hopeful of getting a major share in the infrastructure funds of the Centre. The collective cost of the various infrastructure projects that need to be undertaken in Pune is pegged at Rs 25,806 crore over the next 20 years.

Jaitley made a provision of Rs 30.32 crore for Pune under the head of metro projects. The project got another Rs 70.38 crore and Rs 25.88 crore under the heads of investment in public enterprise and assistance for externally aided projects respectively.
Pune metro had got its first provision of Rs 10.01 crore in the 2013-14 budget. In February last year, the UPA government accorded in-principle approval for the elevated metro plan which includes two corridors – PCMC building to Swargate and Vanaz to Ramwadi – covering a total distance of 31.51 km. The PMC, in its 2015-16 draft budget, has proposed Rs 25 crore for the project.
City MP Anil Shirole said, “The Narendra Modi government’s insistence on well-developed urban conglomerations will help Pune become one of the major modern cities in India.” He also said that Pune city’s inclusion in the government’s ‘Smart City’ programme is certain.
Mayor Dattatreya Dhankawade said that now the government must clear technical hurdles of the project and start work on the ground. “We had pursued the matter with the central and the state government and hope that metro will not remain on paper,” he said.
Citizens said all party leaders must now pitch for maximum funds to ensure a good quality of life in Pune.
According to the civic administration’s calculations, around Rs 3,570.96 crore over a period of 10 years will be needed to meet Pune’s infrastructure targets. The reservations for basic infrastructure and amenities have been worked out based on Pune’s projected population by 2017.
Civic officials said that the PMC can hope for major help from the central government’s kitty for urban infrastructure. “The PMC can implement its Development Plan only with the assistance from the Centre. The civic administration will request all elected representatives to take up the matter at the state and central level,” said a senior civic official.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA