PMC Issues New Tender Worth ₹303 Crore for Riverfront Development Project
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken significant steps towards the development of the right bank of the Mula River, with a new tender worth ₹303 crore initiated for the section from Wakad bypass to Sangvi bridge. This move comes after the withdrawal of an earlier tender six months ago, attributed to disparities in funding approaches between PCMC and PMC. The development falls under the ambit of the public-private partnership (PPP)-based Riverfront Development Project (RFD), partially financed through development credit notes.
On March 21, the PMC project department unveiled a tender worth ₹303 crore for work on the Wakad bypass to Sangvi bridge segment of the river. Surendra Karpe, deputy engineer at PMC project department, stated that credit notes would be utilized in the tender execution. Concurrently, PCMC has released a ₹312 crore tender for the development of the Mula river’s left bank. However, a decision is pending until after the polls, given the enforcement of the model code of conduct preceding the Lok Sabha (LS) elections. PCMC aims to directly fund the left bank’s development.
PMC officials indicate that contracts totaling ₹700 crore have been awarded for river segments linking Bund Garden and Mundhwa bridge to Sangamwadi. Notably, Jaykumar Contract will receive a credit note of ₹400 crore out of the total. Similar to the Wakad bypass to Sangvi bridge stretch, three years have been allocated to complete the segment from Sangamwadi to Mundhwa bridge.
The project is structured into phases, with the initial phase securing ₹700 crore in funding, transitioning eventually to a PPP model. Thus far, PMC has disbursed ₹300 crore for the sections between Bund Garden and Mundhwa bridge, and Sangamwadi and Bund Garden.
Local government officials highlight the Mula-Mutha river’s span of 44 kilometers across various locales. PMC plans to invest ₹20 crore per kilometer in riverfront development, spanning over five years. Approximately 650 hectares of land have been allocated for green belt development, with contributions from private entities. While the government owns 75 hectares of riverfront land, development fees will be levied on the remaining land.
