Pune: New station to come up on Swargate-Katraj Metro route at Balaji Nagar
Pune: Maha Metro has decided to make changes in the proposed Swargate-Katraj Metro route project considering the convenience of local commuters. This will increase the cost of the project by Rs 200 crore-Rs 300 crore.
The Swargate-Katraj route will be constructed as the Pimpri-Swargate route has already started operating. The bhumi-pujan of the Swargate-Katraj route was done online by PM Narendra Modi after the Civil Court to Swargate underground route was inaugurated.
Earlier, the Swargate-Katraj route had three proposed stations. However, a fourth one has now been added on public demand. The fourth Metro station will come up at Balaji Nagar. The PMC has given its in-principle nod to it.
Thus, there will be four Metro stations on the route. Commuters from Balaji Nagar, Dhankawadi will benefit. The PMC will not bear the cost of the fourth station. On this condition, the civic body has given its nod to the fourth station.
There are three stations mentioned in the DPR: Market Yard, Padmavati and Katraj. Commuters from Balaji Nagar and Dhankawadi would have been inconvenienced. Therefore, people’s representatives from this area demanded the fourth station. A resolution was also passed in the GB of the PMC some years ago to build the fourth station at Balaji Nagar. The demand for a station at Balaji Nagar was pushed strongly after the bhumi-pujan ceremony for the route.
The GB’s resolution is needed for a new station. However, the earlier resolution was passed some years ago. Hence, Maha Metro demanded a fresh resolution for the purpose.
The civic administration gave its in-principle nod to the new station at Balaji Nagar. The proposal has been put before the Standing Committee for its approval. A condition has also been mentioned that the financial burden of the new station will not be borne by the civic body. The PMC will provide land for the station while Maha Metro will spend funds to construct it.
Maha Metro surveyed land for the new station after people’s representatives and local residents demanded it. It is a rule that the distance between two Metro stations should not be more than 1-1.5 km.
However, the distance between the Padmavati and Katraj stations is 1.900 km. Therefore, Maha Metro expressed its willingness to build the new station in the backdrop of the demand.
Features of Swargate-Katraj route
*Length: 5.463 km
*Rs 2,954.53 crore funds granted to build the route
*The PMC’s share is Rs 181.21 crore
*The distance between the second station and the third station is 1.9 km
*The new station will cater to commuters in Dhankawadi, Balaji Nagar and KK Market areas
*The project cost is likely to increase by Rs 200 cr-Rs 300 cr
