Image Source: hindustantimes.com
PUNE: The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha-Metro) has requested an additional 15 locations from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) for the extension of the Pune Metro from Pimpri to Nigdi. This request follows the acquisition of 10 key sites, with most of the new locations sought for permanent use.
Maha-Metro’s request includes sites for the metro track, stations, entrances, stairs, lifts, and parking facilities along the Pimpri to Nigdi route. They are also negotiating with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and private landowners for further land acquisition. Among the 15 requested locations, six are at the Nigdi bus terminal, covering 3,562.293 square meters. Two additional sites include an empty area and a footpath in Nigdi, totaling 616.45 square meters. Furthermore, Maha-Metro has asked for 4,884 square meters, including two sites at Abdul Kalam Azad Vidyalaya (285.33 square meters) and five footpath locations in Akurdi (419.16 square meters). Most of these spaces are requested for permanent use.
The Pimpri to Nigdi extension will introduce four new metro stations: Chinchwad, Khandoba Mal Chowk in Akurdi, Tilak Chowk in Nigdi, and Bhakti-Shakti Group in Shilp Chowk. The final station will be at the Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) Depot, where Maha-Metro needs additional footpath space along service roads for construction.
Vijaykumar Khorate, Additional Commissioner of PCMC, stated, “The Maha-Metro has requested 15 different spaces along the Pimpri to Nigdi route. These will be leased, and we have asked the town planning department to assess and set the rates. We will proceed according to the department’s response and regulations.”
Hemant Sonawane, Director of Maha-Metro, added, “We need space for stations, entrances, and stairs. We have requested 15 locations from PCMC for these purposes.”
In the PCMC jurisdiction, the Maha-Metro has already completed the Dapodi to PCMC stretch of Pune Metro Line 1, which is now operational. For this segment, PCMC has transferred 10 strategic locations on a 30-year lease to Maha-Metro. These locations will be used commercially to bolster Maha-Metro’s financial stability through non-ticket revenue. Although the state government has directed the Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal commissioner to transfer these locations with full ownership rights, a decision has not yet been made.
