Metro
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[edit] Introduction
With the Pune Metropolitan Region touching the 50 lakh mark, the Pune Municipal Corporation has been proposing a Metro system for catering to the growing traffic.
[edit] Report by DMRC
Several studies have been commissioned by the Pune Municipal Corporation in order to ascertain whether the Metro system is justified.
DMRC Report on Metro for Pune
- File:Ch00-Table of Contents.pdf
- File:Ch01-Introduction.pdf
- File:Ch02-Traffic Demand Analysis.pdf
- File:Ch03-Need For Metro.pdf
- File:Ch04-System Selection.pdf
- File:Ch05-Civil Engineering.pdf
- File:Ch06-Train Operation Plan.pdf
- File:Ch07-Power Supply Arrangement.pdf
- File:Ch08-Ventilation and AC.pdf
- File:Ch09-Maintenance Depot.pdf
- File:Ch10-Environment Impact Assessment.pdf
- File:Ch11-Cost Estimates.pdf
- File:Ch12-Financing Options.pdf
- File:Ch13-Economic Analysis.pdf
- File:Ch14-Implementation Plan.pdf
- File:Ch15-Conclusions.pdf
[edit] Traffic Forecast for the Proposed Metro Rail Project in Pune Metropolitan Area
In preparing this report DMRC in turn had appointed Transportation Systems Engineering Group of IIT Bombay to perform the traffic study for estimating ridership on the potential Metro corridors.
File:IIT-B Pune Metro Data Report-Final.pdf
[edit] Critique of the DMRC Report
The DMRC Report has been studied in great detail by Mr. Rane of the Indian Railways and several questions have been raised regarding
- The justification for Standard Gauge instead of Broad Gauge which is deemed to be much cheaper and also based on indigenous technology
- The selection of the corridors (especially the one running parallel to the railway track)
- The cost estimates, which are considered grossly underestimated
- The ridership and traffic forecasts
- The fact that the two corridors which seem to intersect at ASI actually are not physically connected with one line being elevated and the other underground!
- Various other technical issues
Refer to the following report by V.K.J Rane, IRSE (Retd.) File:Critique of DMRC Report for Pune Metro - by V.K.J Rane.pdf
[edit] Criticism
While Metro is a Public Transport system and hence preferable to private motorized vehicles the main argument against it is its high cost of construction and operation which leads to many other considerations.
Another key criticism has been the absence of any public debate on the project. Citizens have demanded that information regarding the project should be disseminated and inputs, opinions and suggestions invited from both civic groups and independent experts.
Letter written to the Mayor asking for clarification on many issues as well as demanding public debate on the Metro project - File:4 FSI with Covering Letter - Marathi and English.pdf
[edit] Cost
Delhi Metro which has completed 65 km of its Phase I was built at a cost of Rs 10571 crores or 160 crores per km. Underground Metro is likely to cost 220 crores per km.
[edit] Coverage
High costs will limit the Metro network which will thus not meet the needs of most commuters in the city and who will continue to use private vehicles or the existing bus system
[edit] Alternate Modes
Many argue that for a substantially lower cost one can
- get a highly efficient and top class basic city bus service which will more than adequately meet the needs of the city
- bus enhancement techniques - ranging from bus priority lanes all the way to Bus Rapid Transit can boost carrying capacity, efficiency and reliability of bus based public transport
Jaime Lerner, the erstwhile Mayor of Curitiba, Brazil is considered the pioneer of modern Bus Rapid Transit. He pursued the idea of BRT as an alternative to Metro, which was very expensive. See a film at Streetfilms that covers this topic.
A simple comparison of BRT and Metro
[edit] Environmental Concerns
Chapter 10 of the report says that "about 685 mature trees are likely to be lost". Each tree is valued at Rs 1200 thus estimating the total loss in Rupee terms at 8.22 lakhs. Puneites, already suffering from rapid destruction of green cover are likely to see this loss as being much more in value.
In Bangalore thousands of trees have been put to the axe as this IBN Live news clip shows.
[edit] Financing
Pune, which has an annual budget of Rs 2000 crores (without the JNNURM grants) will be taking on a large project for which it will have to raise revenue. Loans will lead to increased taxation for Puneites in the future.
In any case with the city still unable to provide basic infrastructure such as water, sewage treatment, primary education and health care and processing of solid waste, the financial burden of Metro will have to be rationalized.
The PMC is currently proposing the sale of extra FSI to raise the money for Metro. See proposal below.
[edit] 4 FSI Proposal for Financing and Opposition
[edit] Salient Points of the Proposal
- 4 FSI allowed within 500m of Metro corridor and 200m of BRT corridor
- FSI over and above what is currently allowed (which depends of whether congested area or not and other additions allowed) will be paid FSI
- Rate as per 50% of Ready Reckoner value
- 20% of funds raised will be used for upgrading infrastructure
- Remaining to be used for financing Metro
[edit] Opposition by Civic Groups
Several civic groups and individuals have raised an alarm over this proposal.
Says Dr. Uday Kulkarni
The proposal does not give the rationale nor the effect such an FSI will have on Pune. The DPR says (see Chapter 12) that of the total project cost of Rs 9500 crore rupees, 94% will be raised by government equity, soft long term loan from Japan International Co op Agency , some Govt subordinate debt (again at a low rate of interest. The balance 6% (about 600 crore) is to be raised by property development at Metro stations. The paid FSI therefore has no real connection to the project cost.
Further, the additional paid FSI along Metro corridors alone is expected to generate an amount of Rs 19807 crore over a 20 year period (according to the DPR). The amount that will be generated along 120 km of BRT is likely to be similar if not higher. This huge amount is not required for setting up or running the Metro. The amount of new built up area generated from the entire proposal could be nearly 800 million square feet. This can add a population of about 2.5 million along the corridors in areas that are already densely populated.
The DPR has shown how the Metro can make a profit from the very first year if some of the paid FSI funds are shown as revenue for the Metro. In this manner a profit of Rs 1400 crore in the first four years after 2014 has been taken IF an amount of Rs 2000 crore is used from the paid FSI as the Metro's income.
[edit] Media Reports
The local media has reported on the opposition by local civic groups.
Political Parties Take a stand against the 4 FSI Proposal
Congress against 4 FSI proposal
PUNE: The Congress party members in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) opposed the 4 Floor Space Index (FSI) proposal along the Metro rail route on the grounds that the added population density will burden the infrastructure.
Congress party leader in the PMC Aba Bagul told reporters on Thursday that they are not against the Metro project, but are of the view that funds can be raised from other sources and additional FSI is not necessary.
