The Shivajinagar bus stand, once a vital transit hub for the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), was demolished five years ago to make way for Pune Metro construction.
The bus depot was temporarily shifted to the old Pune-Mumbai Highway, a move meant to be short-term. Yet, half a decade later, there is no sign of a permanent replacement. The prolonged delay has raised serious questions about bureaucratic inefficiency, shifting responsibilities, and the possibility of commercial real estate interests overtaking public transport priorities. The result: tens of thousands of commuters are left to navigate a makeshift arrangement that lacks essential amenities and connectivity, undermining the very principles of sustainable urban transport that Pune aspires to uphold.
Under a 2018 agreement between MahaMetro and MSRTC, the metro authority was tasked with building a new, modern bus terminal as compensation for using the land on which the original Shivajinagar stand was located. Despite this commitment, the project has failed to progress beyond preliminary design stages. Experts from within MSRTC confirm that a design proposal was prepared by a well-regarded architectural firm in 2023, with layouts envisioning an upgraded and integrated transit hub. However, the execution mandate was later handed back to MahaMetro, leading to further inertia.
According to civic officials, the project remains stalled in the absence of a finalised contract or construction blueprint. Metro project authorities claim that legal and logistical formalities are yet to be resolved. Meanwhile, infrastructure experts say the issue lies deeper: the land parcel—situated at a strategic commercial location in Shivajinagar—is rumoured to be earmarked for private development projects, casting a shadow over the city’s public infrastructure priorities. Transport planners argue that the delay is not just a failure of project execution but a reflection of skewed urban planning where short-term commercial interests often overshadow long-term mobility solutions. The absence of a functional terminal impacts thousands of intercity passengers every day, forcing them to use the interim bus stop that lacks shelter, sanitation, and adequate seating.
Voices from civil society have grown louder. Local urban development advocates and citizens’ groups say that the situation reflects a larger problem with transport governance in Maharashtra’s urban centres. A representative from one such group stated that accountability in publicly funded infrastructure must not be compromised under the weight of shifting political or corporate interests. With transit equity and accessibility at the core of inclusive urbanism, such projects cannot afford indefinite delays. At the centre of the controversy is the lack of transparency in the project’s progress. Despite multiple public assurances over the years by elected officials, no timeline has been made public, nor has any detailed project implementation plan been released. This ambiguity has prompted activists to demand answers from senior state officials who had committed to swift delivery of the terminal during previous public meetings.
Planning experts underline that bus terminals are not mere logistical points—they are vital social infrastructure assets that contribute to reducing road congestion, lowering carbon emissions, and promoting equitable access to mobility. In a city that is expanding rapidly across both residential and commercial zones, the absence of a centralised, modernised intercity bus terminal is a significant setback to Pune’s sustainability agenda. The metro itself, a cornerstone of Pune’s effort to transition to greener, mass rapid transit, now risks being associated with poor coordination and project mismanagement. While the Metro’s progress has brought mobility gains to certain pockets of the city, its spill-over impact—especially in terms of lost infrastructure or incomplete transitions—needs more serious scrutiny.
From a policy lens, the prolonged absence of the Shivajinagar terminal raises key questions about inter-agency coordination. With the state transport corporation, the metro authority, and city planners seemingly operating in silos, there is little public accountability. Sustainable transport policy, according to urban mobility researchers, demands synchronisation between modes—metros, buses, cycles, and pedestrians—and not just isolated investments. For Pune’s residents, the issue goes beyond transport—this is about trust in governance and the right to equitable urban infrastructure. Citizens expect not only punctual metros but also safe and dignified bus travel. Without the promised terminal, Pune fails its commuters, many of whom rely on the bus system due to cost, convenience, or regional accessibility.
Unless concrete action is initiated soon, and public updates are issued regularly, the Shivajinagar terminal may become yet another example of misplaced priorities in Indian urban development. In a city that prides itself on innovation and progress, a half-decade delay for a basic bus terminal is both ironic and alarming. The authorities owe it to the city to move forward transparently and decisively. Pune cannot afford to leave its essential infrastructure trapped between blueprints and boardrooms.
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