Pune proposes Metro Neo System along Swargate-Katraj BRTS Corridor

Pune, India (Urban Transport News): The Pune district administration has proposed Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha Metro) and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to look into the option of having a Metro Neo system along the Swargate-Katraj BRTS route aligning with the city bus services.

The issue was discussed on Wednesday during a Pune Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (PUMTA) meeting attended by Maha Metro and PMC officials and Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) chairman and managing director Rajendra Jagtap, among others.

Talking with the media personnel, Jagtap said that proposal on Metro Neo was moved during the meeting. The divisional commissioner urged the PMC to look into the proposal.

He said that the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is considering to have a Metro Neo corridor from Chakan to its high capacity mass transit route. In Pune city, the Metro is supposed to proceed underground along the Swargate-Katraj BRTS corridor. Instead, Metro Neo will be a cost-effective option for the city.

Metro Neo is a rail-guided urban transport system with rubber-tyred electric coaches powered by an overhead traction system running on elevated or at-grade sections.

He further said that the Maha Metro officials have pledged to look into the option. The cost of having an underground tunnel along the corridor for the Metro project is high. A Metro Neo corridor can bring down the cost by almost 15%. The PMPML’s air-conditioned buses can provide feeder services.

The 5.5km-long Swargate-Katraj BRTS corridor is still under construction. Among the major bus stops along the stretch are Dhankawadi, Katraj, Padmavati and Market Yard Chowk among others.

“We have requested MahaMetro to support us for capital expenditure and viability funding for these services. The feeder service to ensure integration between Yerawada, Ramwadi and Kalyaninagar Metro stations will be prioritized,” said Jagtap.

The Central Government last month has already issued standard specifications for Metro Neo projects for tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Maharashtra Government has already given a green signal for this MetroNeo system for Nashik city.

Apart from this, Maha Metro is preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for a Metro Neo system for Warangal in Telangana.