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Mumbai: A Metro Rail for Pune is among the several projects planned by the Maharashtra government to ease the growing traffic problems in this city, which is expanding at a frenetic pace.
Pune does not have Mumbai's large network of public transport - both buses and suburban trains - and the Metro Rail would make a big difference to residents who have had no choice but to use their own vehicles.
Expected to cost Rs46 billion (Dh4 billion), the first phase of the 30km Metro Rail Project will be implemented soon, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said.
Speaking at a meeting on Monday on improving Pune's basic infrastructure facilities, he said an Urban Transport Fund of Rs26 billion has been set up to solve the city's traffic problems.
First phase
It is likely that Phase 1 for the Metro Rail will be the Pimpri-Chinchwad-Swargate (via Agriculture College) route to be followed by the Aundh-Kalyaninagar via Shivajinagar and Pune station. The Pune Municipal Corporation is keen on beginning the first phase of construction within a year so that the project is commissioned by March 2013.
Also planned around Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad is a Ring Road that will facilitate the flow of traffic.
With an allocation of Rs23 billion, the first step will be to acquire land for the Ring Road. A comprehensive plan for the movement of traffic has already been prepared.
Deshmukh had called a meeting of the municipal commissioners of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad in Mumbai and other officials.
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