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Maha-­Metro faces land acquisition hurdles in old Pune or ‘peth’ areas

Hindustan Times, Pune | ByAbhay Khairnar
Sep 22, 2018 03:24 PM IST

Authorities bank on giving attractive compensation to beneficiaries to close the deal

Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (Maha-Metro) is facing opposition from residents in the old Pune or ‘peth’ areas for acquiring land for construction of Metro stations at Budhwar peth and Mandai.

Maha-Metro had already identified 322 entities whose properties will need to be acquired in these areas for carrying out the construction work. Brijesh Dixit, managing director, Maha-Metro said, “It is natural to face opposition for land acquisition. No one is willing to give their property. However, the government needs to acquire the lands to complete the projects in the larger interest.”

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Dixit said there are 205 Metros working in the world and all of them face similar problems when it comes to land acquisition. However, Maha-Metro is planning to give “good compensation” to the project affected people and is keeping all options open such as giving cash component or alternate property at another location, and TDR (transfer of development rights) for handing over the properties.

“This is a crowed area and Maha-Metro will need these properties for erecting the metro stations. The metro corridors will not need land acquisition,” he said.

The affected properties have been surveyed by Maha-Metro with the help of third party as well its project officials. The authorities have also assured to rehabilitate the affected people in the same locality. PMC has one plot in the city area which can be developed and all the affected families can be rehabilitated in the same locality, he said.

Dixit said Maha Metro will ensure that no injustice would be done to anyone during the land acquisition process.

Railway ministry gives approval

After defence ministry, the railway ministry has given its approval for crossings over railway lines on the Pune Metro route and connectivity with Khadki, Shivajinagar and Pune stations.

Brijesh Dixit, managing director, maharashtra metro rail corporation said, “Pune is lucky as it is getting speedy permissions for the Metro project. After the defence ministry’s recent nod to hand over 10 acres land at Khadki, Dapodi and Range Hills, the railway ministry has given its approval for crossing the railway lines near Kamgar Putala and connecting of metro stations with railway stations at Khadki, Shivajinagar and Pune Railway station.The defence ministry has cleared the Pune Metro right of way permission as also the land transfer proposal for Metro stations,” he said.

The Maha Metro’s Pimpri-Chinchwad to Swargate Metro corridor is passing from the Khadki Cantonment area for which defence land is required for parking and construction of railway stations at Khadki, Dapodi and at Range Hills. Land is also required from the defence ministry for erecting the metro corridor of 1.3 km from Khadki to Range Hills. Maha Metro had submitted its proposal to the defence ministry six months ago and was continuously following it up. With the clearances having arrived, the work on the metro corridor will now be speeded up, he said.

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