Ramwadi route change costs Rs 200 cr more 

Ramwadi route change costs Rs 200 cr more 

Pune: After rejection of the proposed metro route near the Aga Khan Palace by National Monument Authority (NMA), MahaMetro (Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation) has decided to change the Vanaz to Ramwadi route to include Gunjan Talkies to Kalyani Nagar to Ramwadi. 

However, the diversion will affect the ridership of the Vanaz to Ramwadi route. The MahaMetro is now looking for options of providing connectivity to maintain the ridership. The Metro project work started on December 2016 with Pimpri-Chinchwad to Swargate route. 

After one year, the MahaMetro started the Vanaz to Ramwadi route work on September 29, 2017. 
The NMA objected to the Ramwadi to Vanaz route near Aga Khan Palace as this section lies within the prohibited area of the Aga Khan Palace. 

As per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, no construction is allowed within 100 metres of a nationally protected monument. Aga Khan Palace was declared a nationally protected monument in 2003. 

MahaMetro was then working on three options for realignment - Kalyani Nagar to Ramwadi, Gunjan Chowk to Ramwadi and Bund Garden along with Mula-Mutha river to Ramwadi. MahaMetro, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and District administration held three meetings to discuss the issue. MahaMetro has finalised second option of Gunjan Chowk to Shivane-Kharadi Road along Mula-Mutha river.  

One of the MahaMetro officials said, “We did not have any choice after NMA objected. We have chosen Gunjan Chowk to Shivane-Kharadi Road along Mula-Mutha river to Ramwadi route. The realignment will affect ridership. The earlier route passed through Bund Garden, Yerawada, Wadia Bungalow, Kalyani Nagar and then Ramwadi. Now, it will be Bund Garden, Gunjan Talkies, parallel to Shivane-Kharadi Road along Mula-Mutha river, Gold Adlabs Mariplex Mall and then Ramwadi. Right now, the PMC is constructing Shivane-Kharadi road along the Mula-Mutha river. We will construct metro at the centre of the road.” 

Due to this realignment, ridership of Maharashtra Housing Board, Jail Road, some parts of Vishrantwadi, Shastri Nagar and Airport will be affected. As the new route adds around 1 km of distance, it will cost around Rs 200 crore extra.  The current estimate of the project (Vanaz to Ramwadi and PCMC to Swargate route) is Rs 3,849 crore. 

He said, “We are trying to give connectivity option to reach Gunjan Talkies Chowk and airport to Ramwadi with the help of battery operated vehicle or buses to bring people to Metro route.”

In 2016 the Bombay High Court, in a petition filed by city-based NGO Parisar, stated that construction of the Metro should not proceed without permission from NMA. Yet, MahaMetro went ahead and awarded the tender for construction of the Civil Court to Ramwadi section on August 2, 2018. 

Unplanned work
In 2016 the Bombay High Court stated that construction of the Metro should not proceed without permission from NMA. Yet, MahaMetro went ahead and awarded the tender for construction of the Civil Court to Ramwadi section on August 2, 2018. 
 The NMA objected to the Ramwadi to Vanaz route near Aga Khan Palace as this section lies within the prohibited area.

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