Centre’s in-principle approval to Pune Metro
The Union minister for urban development (UD), Kamal Nath, accorded an in-principle approval for the Pune metro project on Wednesday, helping the project move a step further towards realization. The project is planned to cover a 31.51 km stretch along two corridors—PCMC building to Swargate and Vanaz to Ramwadi.
The approval will enable the state to fast track the early implementation of the project through a Special Purpose Vehicle which will be equally and jointly owned by the Centre and the state government.
The officer on special duty for the Pune Metro project, Shashikant Limaye said that with the approval, the Centre will issue a government resolution about the next plan of action and other details related to the project implementation. Limaye further added, “The Centre will communicate with the state, after which work on the logistics and other details will start. It will take one or two months to get things in place and then actual work would start.”
The approval, however, does not mean that the Centre is providing any commitment to arrange funds for the project. The Under secretary to the government of India, Mr. Ramesh Chand Meena, in his letter to the state government, has said that the stakeholders’ objections should be addressed.
The Centre, in the letter, has also warned the state that the approval does not amount to any cooperation in part or whole for any financial assistance for the project. The letter clearly stated, “The in-principle approval is solely to enable the state to proceed with the project. There will be no liability on the part of the government of India till the project is finally approved. The state government shall bear/meet/ arrange funds from other sources without resources from the government if the proposed funding, either partly or fully, from the government of India does not get approved.”
Source: The Times of India
Centre, Government of India, Kamal Nath, ladder, PCMC, Pune metro project, Ramesh Chand Meena, Shashikant Limaye, special purpose vehicle, Under secretary, Union minister, Urban development
