MAHARASHTRA (METRO RAIL NEWS): After a succession of trials on the elevated Vanaz-Ramwadi route, Maha Metro is now concentrating on the stretch from Agriculture college to Civil court (Shivajinagar), including the underground metro stations. Maha Metro has set March 2022 as a deadline by which to complete this section.
“We have sped up work of both underground stations. As a result, we will complete the work by March 2022. At present, we have completed 35 to 40 per cent of both stations. The remaining three underground stations are Kasba, Mandai and Swargate, which will be complete by December 2022,” said Shri Atul Gadgil, Maha Metro, Director (works).
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are behind the six months deadline. But we are trying to complete work as early as possible. Unfortunately, Mandai station work is delayed due to land-related issues,” Mr. Gadgil added.
Maha Metro is executing the Pune Metro Rail Project (PMRL), which has two corridors — one from Vanaz to Ramwadi, an elevated line; and the other from PCMC to Swargate, which is elevated from PCMC to Agriculture college, and after that underground, up to Swargate. The underground section is 6 KM with stations proposed at Shivajinagar bus stand, Civil Court, Phadke haud, Mandai and Swargate.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra State Regional Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has decided to withdraw from the multimodal hub project due to a lack of viability in the funding.
Mr. Gadgil also said that “Maha Metro has decided to pay MSRTC for a piece of land which Maha Metro acquired to construct the underground station. However, MSRTC has not started any formalities. Earlier, we were supposed to build two layers of an underground basement.”
Maha Metro had proposed constructing a multi-storied building with a bus depot and terminus at ground level where the MSRTC Shivajinagar bus terminus is located. It was decided that Maha Metro will develop the MSRTC bus terminal.
