Here’s the first look of the new integrated transport hub at Swargate
Maha Metro has prepared the conceptual design for the integrated transport hub and is also taking the help of IIT-Bombay and COEP for a detailed study and design
With the help of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) and College of Engineering Pune (COEP), Maha Metro has prepared a conceptual design of the integrated transport hub at Swargate and is working on details. Maha Metro has been entrusted with the responsibility of executing the Metro rail project in Pune.
Earlier in August, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had instructed Maha Metro to prepare a plan for the integrated transport hub at Swargate and start work within a period of six months.
“Maha Metro has prepared the conceptual design for the integrated transport hub and has even appointed the consultant for it. It is also taking the help of IIT-Bombay and COEP for a detailed study and design,” Maha Metro’s managing director Brijesh Dixit told Hindustan Times.
Dixit added, “Although the chief minister has given six months time, Maha Metro is planning to start work before the stipulated period and is confident that it will be able to do it.”
“Chief minister has asked the Maha Metro to co-ordinate, plan and execute the integrated transport hub at Swargate. There is a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus station and PMPML bus stop at the said location already. The new design will integrate all the transport models, with separate roads for each of them. There will also be safe roads for commuters to access the station,” said Dixit.
Earlier, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had made a similar plan for Swargate chowk in 2013, but at that time, the Metro was not part of the design. However, now, with the Metro station coming up at Swargate, a completely new plan has been sketched out.
Brijesh Dixit said, “As per my view, there is a need to make existing flyovers two-way instead of keeping them one-way. One-way flyover do not help much.”
A Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) official, on condition of anonymity, said that there are 22 acres of land at Swargate chowk which belong to MSRTC, PMC and the irrigation department.
The MSRTC had earlier planned to develop a Swargate depot on a ‘build, operate and transfer’ basis, but has now cancelled the plan. Now, as the chief minister has taken an interest in this project, there are hopes that the new plan would be executed at a faster pace, said the PMC officer.