Metro corridor: PMRDA, Maha-Metro demand revenue share generated from PMC’s building permissions

PUNE Maharashtra Metro rail corporation (Maha-Metro) and Pune Metropolitan region development authority (PMRDA), both, have demanded a share in the revenue generated from building permissions on the Metro corridor. 

The central and state government adopted the transport oriented development (TOD) policy for the metro projects. Under this policy, it is expected that local bodies will give additional floor space index (FSI) to increase population density along metro corridors. 

Kiran Gitte, PMRDA commissioner, confirmed that the PMRDA has asked for a share of revenue from the PMC for its Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro corridor . 

Gitte said, “Whosoever gives permission for the additional works does not matter, but whatever revenue is generated should be shared for mega projects, like the metro, to bridge the financial gap.” 

Maha-Metro officials also confirmed that they too are asking for a share from building permissions which will generated by giving additional FSI. The state government had already given such rights in Nagpur to Maha-Metro. 

Opposition wants to derail revenue sharing

Opposition leader, NCP’s Chetan Tupe, has criticised the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and guardian minister Girish Bapat for entertaining such a proposal. He claimed that the BJP is encroaching on the financial rights of local urban bodies. 

The PMC administration is now in a fix, given that PMC revenue is likely to get hit. Administrative sources, on the condition of anonymity, said that PMC has already spent money in smart city areas like Aundh, Baner and Balewadi, but now PMRDA will demand a revenue share from those areas as the metro will run through there.