DMRC for elevated rail, Ajit firm on underground metro - Indian Express - 21/11/2011

MANOJ MORE/Pune/Indian Express - 21/11/2011 

Even as Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is set to submit its final report to the state government on Monday on the proposed Pune metro in favour of an elevated rail, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday reaffirmed his faith on an underground metro as the best for the city. “After learning from other cities, I decided to support an underground metro. Although expensive, it’s in the interest of a bustling city like Pune,” he told this paper.

Rejecting an elevated metro he was earlier in favour of, he said projects in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi have led to environmental issues and noise pollution. He said, “Do we need a project that goes against public interest and health?”

The Pune Guardian Minister said although he had earlier supported an elevated metro, he changed his mind after realising several lacunae. “I have become aware of problems created by elevated metros. Apart from learning from other cities, I held discussions with experts and came to the conclusion that an underground metro is ideal for Pune,” he said.

If an elevated metro is taken up, the biggest hurdle would be during land acquisition, he said and added, “In an already congested city, displacing hundreds of people will unnecessarily disturb peace. For an underground rail, there is no need to displace people or acquire land. The project will take shape faster than an elevated one,” he said. Although it would require lot of money, it would be worth the investment. “If we consider the future of a growing city like Pune, we won’t regret the investment,” he said.

He said some sections of society and journalists were pushing for an elevated metro, but he was firm on his decision. “Although our party does not have the majority in the state or the civic body, we are firm on our decision,” he said.

NCP city unit chief Vandana Chavan said the party has taken the right decision. “First we thought an elevated metro would be good, but after a thorough study, we decided to pitch in for an underground metro. Our leader Ajit Pawar has made the right decision unlike some favouring an elevated metro without studying ground realities,” she said.

The underground metro has wide support among civic activists, experts, industrialists and parties like the Shiv Sena. The Pune Metro Jagruti Abhiyan (PMJA) has been on the forefront of the demand for an underground metro and applauded the NCP for its stand.

The PMJA Abhiyan said underground metro was any day better than an elevated one as far as environment, safety and saving trees or historical monuments are concerned. Industrialist and PMJA member Arun Firodia said they had been rooting for an underground metro.

“An elevated metro could be vulnerable as Pune is in seismic zone four, but not an underground metro,” said Narendra Bhagwat, an expert on underground rail. Dr Ketan Gokhale, former MD, Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd, has also been in favour of underground metro because of its advantages.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dmrc-for-elevated-rail-ajit-firm-on-underground-metro/878528/0 

 

Centre will assist state in planning Metro’s second leg - Mumbai Mirror - 21/11/2011

Rahul Gadpale/ mumbai mirror / 21/11/2011

It’s a decision that could cut short your long wait for a comfy ride on the Metro. Frowning over the inordinate delay in implementing the first phase of the Metro project (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar), the Centre will now put in an equal amount of money as the state, instead of banking on a joint partnership of the public and private sectors, as is presently the case.

Union Minister for Urban Development, Kamal Nath, made this announcement in Delhi on Sunday.

So, pending Metro projects for your bustling metropolis could have a 50:50 funding by the state and central governments.

The first phase of the Metro is a partnership venture of a private company formed between nodal development agency, Mumbai Metropolitan Road Development Agency (MMRDA), and the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Company.

This private company has been claiming that 80 per cent of work is complete. However, the reply to a Right To Information (RTI) query has revealed that only 60 per cent of work has completed so far. The company has been saying that the first line, Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar, will start functioning soon, but the information sought by the RTI shows that this is unlikely.

The bigger problem that emerged is that the company has not been able to plan the second line of the metro, the Charkop-Bandra-mankhurd line. There is much confusion over whether it should be underground or elevated, and it is unclear whether the company has sufficient funds. A senior MMRDA official said, “The second line is very complicated, and seems to have a lot of technical problems.”

Kamal Nath said the main reason there are so many problems with the project is that there are too many private players involved. Thus the central government has decided that the second line will progress like the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation did, with the help of the Centre. It has already instructed the state government to make a Detailed Project Report (DPR).

“The work was supposed to be finished before March 2012, as per the agreement,” said Anil Galgali, who filed the RTI and then filed a complaint with the minister. “However, the work has been delayed and there has been a huge escalation in costs, and the MMRDA has not given any explanation for this.”

The RTI filed shows that the total cost of the project is Rs 2356 crore. MMRDA holds 26 per cent stocks and Reliance holds the rest. The viability gap for the project is about Rs 650 crore, of which the central government will bear Rs 471 crore, and the state government and MMRDA will have to take care of the rest.

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/20111121201111210226234231924ac8c/Centre-will-assist-state-in-planning-Metro%E2%80%99s-second-leg.html