[sustran] PMC's feeder service plan get WB boost

[Vinay Baindur]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/PMCs_feeder_service_plan_get_WB_boost/articleshow/4185283.cms

PMC's feeder service plan get WB boost
25 Feb 2009, 0118 hrs IST, TNN


   PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation's plans to provide feeder services
of non-motorised transport towards the pilot bus rapid transit routes
received a boost with the World Bank agreeing to provide the PMC's share of
funds for the project.

The project, which is an initiative of the central government for which Pune
is chosen as one of the demonstration cities, was to be implemented with Rs
117 crore from the World Bank and additional share funds from the PMC.

Municipal commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi told TOI: "Considering the budget
deficit that the PMC is facing, the WB will now be funding Rs 200 crore for
the project, which is a significant support to the civic body."

The civic officials also proposed to the WB delegation that visited PMC on
Tuesday to fund some of the pedestrian overbridges that have been proposed
on the BRT routes in the city.

"We have identified at least 20 critical spots where overbridges are a must.
We have proposed to the WB that if they can fund at least 10 such bridges at
the highly congested junctions," an official said.

He added that the PMC has come up with a new design for the pedestrian
bridges to ensure that they don't remain unutilised. "We have made an
attractive design with steps not more than six inches high."

The World Bank delegation is also on a three-day visit to Pimpri-Chinchwad
to negotiate a soft loan for implementing the bus rapid transit system
(BRTS) project in the area.

Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma said: "The five-member
delegation will return to Pimpri on Wednesday after a visit to Pune. The
decisions taken during the discussions would be known on Wednesday." PCMC
officials said the delegation gathered information about the BRTS projects
to be implemented in the municipal limits under Jawaharlal Nehru National
Urban Renewal Mission. The delegation will also visit the BRTS sites.

The PCMC plans to implement BRTS on four routes, namely, Pune-Mumbai
highway; Aundh-Ravet road; eight-kilometre-long corridor from Nashik Phata
to Wakad and 11.2-kilometre-long corridor from Kalewadi Phata to Dehu-Alandi
road.
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