Pune developments in pipeline
Pune has been one among the preferred living destination in India owing to a number of factors like good connectivity to Mumbai, presence of numerous industries, better employment opportunities, pleasant climatic conditions, affordable housing solutions and proximity to reputed educational and IT companies. With the fast urban growth, migration rate in the city has been high over the years. The government has envisaged for improvements in the urban infrastructure, as there has been a grave concern over the environmental degradation, due to the growth of population and increasing urban activities.
Pune Development Plan 2041
According to the Pune Development Plan for 2041, social infrastructure is planned in terms of population. In addition to health facilities, the development plan also concentrates on the infrastructure facilities pertaining to education, security, sports, socio-cultural activities, communications, safety and other community facilities pertaining to recreation, social congregations and community events, religious activities and cremation/ burial grounds etc.
Development of a multi-modal transport system is one of the main objectives mentioned in the DP. An integrated connection between the road, rail and metro-system is envisaged. Apart from proposal of new missing links, development of major arterials in the outer-city area and their capacity augmentation are also under consideration. Construction of new bridges/bypass and flyovers, and development of subways are also proposed.
Introduction of new modes of public transport and improvement and expansion of BRTS corridors, metro-rail, light rail transport system (LRTS) and monorail system, feeder system for metro, development of cycle track with parking facilities, development of safe pedestrian facilities, provision of subways and skywalk, introduction of congestion charges, provision of flyovers and development of HCMTR are some of the main infrastructural projects proposed.
Development of Tunnels, Metro and HCMTR
Three tunnels have been proposed, which would help in the reduction of traffic congestion and promote smooth traveling. These are :
1)From Tulsibaug wale colony to Pul- Deshpande Udyan Sinhagad Rd.
2) Gokhale nagar Mafco to Panchavati, Pashan.
3) Sutardhara Kothrud to Panchwati Pashan.
Six metro lanes under the commuter rails/LRTS/ Metro and High Capacity Mass Transportation Route (HCMTR) under the Mass transport system, are two of the other proposals. The HCMTR route is proposed to be developed for operating rapid bus transport and rail based rapid transit system. It would be used only for the operation of mass transportation system. Truck terminals , on the periphery of the city, along the ring road has also been proposed, which are hoped to help in a free-flow of traffic.
Expansion of NH-9
The existing 2-lane Pune Solapur section of NH-9 from 40 to 144 km, would be expanded as a 4-lane, by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by the consortium of TRIL Roads Pvt. Ltd.(known as Pune-Solapur Expressways Pvt. Ltd) and Autostrade Indian Infrastructure Development Private Limited, in addition to the bypass in Maharashtra, which runs a length of 110km. Both the projects would be developed on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis.
The tolling operations at both the toll plazas commenced on the first week of February. Autostrade Indian Infrastructure Development Private Limited, Oriental Structural Engineers Private Limited and IJM India Infrastructure Limited are the construction partners of the project. The project would have a concession period of 21 years.
