The development of around four lakh square metres of land at prime locations across Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad civic limits would be governed by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) or MahaMetro. The state government has now given “special planning authority status” to MahaMetro to look after these lands “in larger public interest”.
The planning authority can take calls on construction activities for Metro-allied activities. This includes stations, depots, feeder charging, parking, and commercial activities. As per the notification issued on October 17, the planning authorities that are currently operational at the said locations “shall cease to function”.
MahaMetro had earlier requested the state government to allot it the status of special planning authority. The state government said, “Considering the importance of the said Metro project and the need to develop the same in a well-planned and time-bound manner, it is necessary to consider the request of MMRCL to appoint it as a special planning authority for the said lands.”
According to Metro officials, after being allocated the status of planning authority, MMRCL will not have to go to local self-governing bodies for building permissions.
“We will be able to expedite processes like building permissions and constructions. The properties will also be used for revenue generation in the future. The details about how much revenue will be generated is being estimated,” Atul Gadgil, director of MahaMetro, told.
Four major locations will be used for commercial constructions and revenue generation. They include Swargate, Civil Court, Agriculture College (Shivajinagar) and Kothrud. A public private partnership (PPP) model is being proposed for developing these properties. The potential to construct around 10million sqft (around one million sq meters) on these prime lands is being explored. Non-fare revenue will be generated from these buildings, said the MahaMetro officials.
The Metro officials added that they will have to make sure they follow provisions made in the Development Control Rules or Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR).
As per Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials, the move will lead to loss of revenue for it, as it will shoulder the responsibility of providing other civic facilities to these properties. “The public funds generated from taxpayers’ money will be used for maintaining the commercial properties owned and operated by MahaMetro. If the civic body has to provide drainage lines, water and sanitation to these properties, a revenue sharing model should be proposed, so that PMC does not face an additional financial burden,” a senior civic official told TOI.
PMC officials also said civic bodies would have got income from development charges, building permission and other charges of premium floor-space index (FSI) for granting permissions to these buildings, had the latest change in status not been enforced.
