PMRDA hastens work on Rs 8,312-cr metro line

The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has started groundwork to fast-track the Rs 8,312 crore Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar Metro line, which was awarded to the Tata-Siemens joint venture.

To begin with, the authority has initiated the process of auctioning the state government’s eight-acre dairy farm land near the Old Pune-Mumbai highway to raise funds for the metro project. PMRDA had received three pieces of government-owned land in Pune city from the state cabinet to fund the proposed metro rail project from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar. PMRDA’s deputy collector, Ramdas Jagtap, informed that the PMRDA was given the land initially designated for government polytechnic, dairy development, and the police department. The authority expects to raise over Rs 500 crore from the e-auction. The authority is also auctioning Pune Rural Police department land, which was given to PMRDA instead of direct financial assistance of Rs 1,200 crore. The structures on the dairy farm land have been cleared, enabling the auctioning exercise, after which it will be handed over to the Tata-Dirmrnd joint venture that is developing the Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar Metro line.