Pune Metro and the proposed High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) elevated corridor intersect at eight locations across the city, prompting the Pune Municipal Corporation and Maha-Metro to begin joint planning for construction and route coordination, according to a report by Loksatta-Pune.
The most significant overlap is on the Sinhagad Road corridor, where the two projects are planned along the same route between Hingne and Swargate. The shared stretch is approximately 2.5 to 3 kilometres long, making advance coordination necessary before construction begins, the report said.
A joint meeting of officials from the civic body and Maha-Metro was held to discuss how work on the two projects should be planned together. The coordination is intended to address locations where the proposed HCMTR alignment and planned metro corridors cross or run along the same road space.
The HCMTR is being pursued as an elevated route intended to ease traffic congestion on Pune’s road network. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed that the project be expedited, following which meetings at different administrative levels have reportedly been held over the past three to four months.
The municipal corporation plans to prepare a detailed project report for the HCMTR within the next three months. The process of appointing a consultant to prepare the report is currently at its final stage, according to the report. The DPR is expected to establish the project’s technical and implementation details, although the supplied information does not specify the proposed cost, construction schedule or final alignment beyond the locations identified for coordination.
Maha-Metro is currently focusing on the metro route from Khadakwasla to Swargate and onward via Solapur Road to Mundhwa. This route overlaps with the HCMTR proposal at several points, including the stretch between Hingne and Swargate. The eight intersections therefore require decisions on alignment, structural design, construction sequencing and management of traffic and public movement during the works.
The meeting marks an early effort to coordinate two major transport projects before their construction phases advance. Further details on the integrated design, the final HCMTR alignment and the responsibilities of the civic corporation and Maha-Metro are expected through the DPR process and subsequent planning decisions.
