PUNE: The metro’s connectivity encompassing Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad is set to go far and wide with the allocation of Rs 838.96 crore for the 2025-26 fiscal in the Budget.
Maha Metro is looking forward to using a maximum portion of funds for the PCMC-Nigdi and Swargate-Katraj extensions, besides completing what remains of the phase-1 routes. These funds would include the Union govt’s share and would be released as per need and progress of the works.
Metro works across the city are on the fast track and the project is unlikely to face a shortage of funds this year now that the allocation has been made.
Maha Metro in October 2024 fully opened the PCMC building to Swargate and Vanaz to Ramwadi routes. Some works like entry-exit points and the construction of Khadki and Range Hills stations are underway.
Groundwork on the Pimpri-Nigdi extension has started while groundwork on Swargate-Katraj underground metro route may begin in the next two to three months.
Officials said, “The actual allocation of funds comes in phases. We will see that the funds are utilised for the priority works so that more people will be able to avail metro services. Its reach will cover more localities in the coming years in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. There is a plan to finish construction of the Pimpri-Nigdi stretch in the next two and a half years.”
Daily ridership on the two routes increased to 1.60 lakh in Jan as both routes are fully operational, connecting the east-west and north-south areas in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.
Commuters want the Maha Metro administration to utilise funds to improve last-mile connectivity to the stations. Santosh Sakhare, a resident of Nagar Road, said that the funds should be utilised to procure midi buses that can be deployed on shorter routes near the metro stations.
Sources said that Maha Metro is also looking forward to improving last-mile connectivity and for faster completion of the studies of newly proposed metro routes.
Rs 230 crore for Mula-Mutha pollution project
The Centre has allocated Rs 230 crore for Mula-Mutha pollution abatement project for 2025-26 fiscal. Japan International Cooperation Agency has approved Rs 990.26 crore loan for this project to be routed through the central government which has sanctioned Rs 841.72 crore and Pune Municipal Corporation’s share is Rs 148.54 crore.
According to sources in Pune Municipal Corporation, the Centre has released nearly Rs 300 crore with another Rs 100 crore in the pipeline with the state govt. Another Rs 200 crore will come to the state from the Centre in two months that would leave around Rs 240 crore to be allocated of the promised amount.
The funds will help speed up work on STPs this year. “We will sanction five STPs in July and five more in Dec this year. We are awaiting the govt resolution for land for the last STP. We did not receive funds till Oct 2024 which caused the delay,” a PMC official said.
