Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation managing director Shravan Hardikar has urged Pune residents to brace for traffic disruptions as the city moves into the next phase of Metro construction.
Speaking at an interactive session organised by the Top Management Consortium Foundation on Saturday, Hardikar admitted that the upcoming line will be particularly challenging as it connects residential areas such as Khadakwasla, Sinhagad Road, Hadapsar and Wagholi with commercial hubs including Magarpatta and Kharadi.
“I want to bring in the Metro network, but it gives me jitters thinking about diverting traffic in Hadapsar and on Sinhagad Road. We survived the past five years at Ganeshkhind Road,” he said.
Hardikar stressed that building a 200 km Metro network over the next decade will require sacrifices. “Sustainable living comes by making sacrifices. If these are the sacrifices, then 50% of people might have access to a Metro station within 1 km, hoping that they will walk that distance,” he added.
The current phase of Metro construction, including the Hinjewadi route, has already faced criticism for causing severe traffic issues and waterlogging during the monsoon. The impact was felt the most at University Chowk after the flyover demolition, which forced multiple diversions.
Addressing concerns over last-mile connectivity, Hardikar noted the lack of parking space at Metro stations. “Even if the administration utilises all the empty plots around the Metro stations, the Metro can create only 30,000 spots, which is just 5% of the expected daily ridership of six lakh on two lines covering 33 km,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Hardikar predicted Pune’s population could double in the next 25 years and emphasised the importance of development along Metro corridors. He pointed out that 35% of current Metro riders are aged 14-25, showing a shift towards a Metro-centric lifestyle.
“Transit-oriented development is designed in such a way that planning for the next 30 years will happen around the Metro line. This will ensure that of all the incremental population growth, 50% will happen around the Metro line. Only those who can afford it will stay farther from the Metro,” he said.
Meanwhile, TMCF convener Ajay Aggarwal suggested that the city’s bus service, PMPML, be brought under the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority for better management and possibly operated under a public-private partnership model, noting that Pune needs 10,000 additional buses.
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