Analysis / Reports

Not a day passes without there being some news in the media about how the Pune Metro Rail project is going to liberate Pune from its traffic issues. But the little known fact is that it is steeped in a deluge of issues. Several lofty claims that Pune Metro makes are nothing but an eyewash. With the project under execution now, it indeed is time for Punekars to start the real 'Samvaad' about Pune Metro. Keeping this in mind, we are starting a 'Debunking Metro Myths' series where we will pick up one data point and try to understand, analyze and share it with everyone. 

Urban transport has been riddled with problems of increasing congestion, air pollution, rising accidents, rising greenhouse gases emissions and many other consequential impacts.

Major investments are being poured into infrastructure and systems development to deal with these issues, and there have been several studies that have estimated the quantum of investments needed for infrastructure spending along with various policy regimes emerging to enable and guide these investments. National governments have been driving these policies, processes and projects – often under the assumption that the urban local bodies do not have the capacity to plan and execute them, thus rendering the entire process undemocratic. Large infrastructure projects, which are often accompanied by land reforms, are re-shaping cities in an unprecedented manner, causing social upheaval. The environmental impact of these changes is both significant and largely ignored, as are the long-term financial consequences for the country and the city itself.

Vishrantwadi Chowk is a complex mesh of streets and vehicles. Roads from Alandi, Pune Airport and Dhanori meet at this square, making it one of the most congested and perilous junctions in the city. Following a common narrative and logic a massive foot overbridge of 80 metres was proposed by PMC in 2011, to ‘safely’ remove the pedestrians from the streets. Although the work on overbridge was completed in the March of 2014, it opened for public a month later due to issues pertaining to code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections.

A tender was issued by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on 14th December, 2017 for constructing a subway at the cost of about Rs. 6 crore at Sector 4, Krishnanagar near Spine Road.

Known for its wide roads and connectivity with National Highways, it is common to find huge flyovers and umpteen grade separators dotting the roadscape of the twin city of Pimpri Chinchwad. With an uncompromising emphasis on speed and unflinching recognition of development, the city boasts of the State’s first two-tiered flyover, built using JnNURM funds. The city has also worked towards ensuring good public transportation and boasts of the costliest BRTS corridor that runs from Sangvi to Kiwale in addition to another corridor which is from Nashik Phata to Wakad.