Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) find themselves in a deadlock over the placement of entrance and exit stairs for two Pune Metro stations on Ganeshkhind Road—Shivajinagar opposite the IMD and Reserve Bank office.
The ongoing construction work on the Hinjawadi to Shivajinagar route has revealed a crack in the collaboration, specifically concerning the width of Ganeshkhind Road. Initially planned at 36 meters, the width was later increased to 45 meters due to the proposed double-decker flyover. PMC has urged PMRDA to maintain a clear 45-meter space for the metro stations’ stairs, which, in turn, would necessitate additional land acquisition and potential project delays.
PMC’s standpoint is that extending the stairs 45 meters outside the road would encroach upon the space of key institutions such as the Reserve Bank, Akashvani, and the observatory. Moreover, this could compromise the fire safety of the main buildings of these institutions. A forthcoming meeting between PMRDA Commissioner Rahul Mahiwal and PMC Commissioner Vikram Kumar aims to find a resolution to the ongoing disagreement.
Chief Engineer of PMRDA, Rinaj Pathan, outlined the situation, stating, “According to the Pune Municipal Corporation, the stairs of the Shivajinagar metro stations in front of the Reserve Bank and the observatory should be 45 meters outside the road. Additional land acquisition has to be done for this. A meeting will be held soon between the PMRDA Commissioner and Municipal Commissioner, and a decision will be taken.”
Vikas Dhakne, Additional Commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation, stressed the importance of long-term traffic planning for Ganesh Khind road for the next 50 years. He pointed out, “If the stairways of metro stations come inside the 45-meter wide road, it will become narrow. So these stairs can be taken outside even after further land acquisition.”
