The PMC has made its decision to split the seven-year-old transport body; the proposal will now be forwarded to the chief minister and deputy chief minister to take the final decision on the matter
Pune: In a major decision taken by the PMC in its general body (GB) yesterday, the civic body approved the idea to disintegrate Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) and restore it to its original form. The seven-year-old transport body was formed after the merger of Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Transport (PCMT). This division proposal will now be sent to the chief minister and deputy chief minister to pass the final verdict.
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After the proposal was approved, Congress corporators, who were strongly pushing for this proposal for the past three months, were in celebration mood. However, NCP men took a cautious stand saying that Deputy CM Ajit Pawar is not entirely convinced of breaking up PMPML.
Congress corporator Avinash Bagwe, who was happy with the GB’s judgment on this proposal, said, “This is a historic decision taken in the interest of the city. Disintegration of PMPML will end the sorry state of this joint venture.”
He added that when PMPML was established, the city was not receiving Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funds. But now, with the separation, PMC can divert these funds to improve the public transport facility of the city.
PMC leader of the opposition Arvind Shinde said, “The disintegration of PMPML will help to improve traffic in both the cities. PMC can reserve 5 per cent of its budget to Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) and ensure that city will get efficient public transport. Right now in PMPML, the corporation has no scope to make any improvements.”
On the other hand, PMC leader of the house, Subhash Jagtap, while supporting NCP’s stand on this said, “GB has not given any approval. As the PMPML had been established by the state government, now when we are talking about its separation, the GB has moved the proposal back to the state government.”
Interestingly when GB approved the proposal to disintegrate PMPML and in the same meeting, NCP with the help of Congress sanctioned the proposal to allot 2.5 FSI to develop commercial complexes in PMPML bus depots and stands in the city to overcome consistent losses by the transport body. With this development, it will now be able to make commercial use of all depots by reserving the ground and first floor for PMPML and above floors can be used for commercial purposes.
BJP and MNS strongly opposed the proposal of 2.5 FSI. Hence, the administration called for a voting round, and 35 votes approved the idea, while 23 were against it.
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