PMRDA rolls out ₹75,000-cr infra development plan

The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) in its draft development plan has proposed 26 town planning schemes, 59 public housing projects along with a network of 10 metro rail routes, a high-speed railway, a crescent railway and two ring roads. The metropolitan region is spread over 6,914.26 square km and the draft DP has been prepared considering the future needs of the area. The development of projects proposed in the DP would cost ₹75,000 crore and it would be carried out in a phased manner. PMRDA is the third-largest metropolitan region in the country after Bengaluru and Hyderabad and the largest in the state. The Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC), spearheaded by the state CM, has approved the publication of the draft DP of the PMRDA, which would be open for suggestions and objections from people. As per the draft DP, the metropolitan region will also have 30 fire stations, eight biodiversity parks and 16 public parks along with few satellite townships to implement the concept of walk to work. Also, there will be 13 multi-modal hubs, seven treatment centres for accident victims, four regional centres, 15 civic facilitation centres and 12 logistic centres. The PMRDA has also proposed five tourist destinations, five mega educational centres, two medical research centres, an agriculture processing research and development centre, a sports university, eight rural strengthening centres, two industrial research and training centres and four agriculture produce marketing committees to encourage economic activities, among others. As per the 2011 census, the population of the PMRDA is 17.11 lakh, and it is estimated to grow up to 53.7 lakh by 2041. The sustainable development goals of the United Nations have been considered while preparing the draft DP. Environment protection and conservation have been given priority. It has been planned to be the most liveable habitat in the country with a focus on making it convenient, prudent, resilient, efficient and self-sufficient.