PUNE: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Standing Committee Chairman Yogesh Mulik, on Friday presented the annual budget of 2019-20 of Rs 6,765 crore in the General Body meeting. This year, the focus is on transportation sector which includes expansion of the metro network, improvement of PMPML service and starting of High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) project.
Mayor Mukta Tilak, Deputy Mayor Dr Siddharth Dhende, Leader of House Shrinath Bhimale, Opposition Leader Dilip Barate and Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao were present for the General Body meeting when the budget was presented.
“Pune city has started work to make the city smart. We have identified the problems and challenges of the city and addressed them in the budget. We have given priority to development projects and allocated funds to complete them within the stipulated time. We have made financial provisions for development of basic infrastructure to make an ideal Smart City in future,” Mulik said.
Expansion of metro, flyovers, PMPML buses
Metro work has been undertaken for public transport empowerment. Looking at the speed of the work, the metro will run in the city in the coming months.
A 195-km metro route is proposed in the city. Accordingly, preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Ramwadi-Lohegaon Airport, Ramwadi-Wagholi and Swargate-Katraj, work is in the final stage. The work for these routes will be undertaken in the coming year.
Along with the Metro, the Standing Committee has given preference to start work for HCMTR, six-lane high-speed roads for 37 km. Rs 200 crore have been allocated for the project. The first phase of this project will be launched in the coming months.
A provision of Rs 30 crore has been made on Sinhagad Road flyover. Katraj-Kondhwa Road has been given Rs 55.30 crore. There is also a provision of Rs 22 crore for the work of Shivane-Kharadi riverside road. The Committee also made provision of Rs 28 lakh for Bal Bharati-Paud Road.
Six multipurpose parking lots will be set up in the city. The process of acquiring 1,300 e-buses and 800 CNG buses for improvement of PMPML has been started this year. A provision of Rs 180 crore has been made for the purchase of 150 buses.
Special package for Nagar Road
As Standing Committee Chairman Mulik represents Vadgaonsheri-Kalyani Nagar, he has given special attention to Nagar Road area. Mulik suggested projects of Golf Road flyover and grade separator, Kharadi flyover and grade separator, Kalyani Nagar-Koregaon flyover, Yerawada-Shastri Nagar flyover and flyover at Vishrantwadi. The Committee suggested to civic administration to make ‘Nagar Road integrated transport plan’ to implement all necessary safety measurements which are mentioned in the Road Safety Audit.
Financial provision has also been made for health, education, waste management, road development, garden construction, Shivashree, Gadima memorial, warkari cultural hall, Haj house, Pradhan Krantiguru Lahuji Vastad Salve Memorial, Shahid Saurabh Pharate Memorial, self employment for women, self-employment for the youths, water improvement, prevention of water pollution, river rectification centre, hostel for women, fire prevention centre and adequate provision for 11 villages in the budget.
HIGHLIGHTS OF BUDGET
- Rs 1 crore has been allocated for Kalpvruksha, a Carbon Neutral Pune project to plant bamboo trees to control carbon.
- 191 gardens open for students to study between 6.00 am and 8.00 pm.
- Rs 2 crore allocated for Jalyukt Shivar.
- A special provision of Rs 92 crore for addressing Nagar Road traffic problem.
- 100 new traffic wardens will be deputed in the main chowks.
- Rs 200 crore alloted for HCMTR proj.
- Rs 22.12 crore allocated for Kharadi-Shivane riverside road.