RailEnquiry

PUNE: A city-based citizens' group has demanded that regulations for development along the proposed metro rail route be amended. Members of the group said that while some regulations were unclear and could be misinterpreted, others had the potential to ruin the city. Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, Pune Janhit Aghadi (PJA) president Ujwal Keskar demanded amendments in the regulations for development along the proposed metro influence zone in non-congested areas. He said the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has incorporated regulations recommended by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation ( DMRC) in the development plan without consulting citizens. "One of the regulations states that after a period of five years from the commencement of metro work, plots or land falling in the metro influence zone will not be allowed to remain vacant. If any plot/land is kept vacant, cess shall be charged at the rate of 5% of the ready reckoner rate. The PMC has not specified and defined the concept of such vacant plot/land. This regulation could be misinterpreted," said Keskar, demanding that this regulation should be scrapped.

Keskar said that the PJA is also opposed to the regulation of the 4 Floor Space Index (FSI) for a 500m area on either side of the 31.5-km proposed metro route from Vanaz-Ramwadi. The PMC has proposed the FSI to make the metro project financially viable. Keskar feels that implementing this regulation could ruin the city.

Meanwhile, the city unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to launch a campaign to enlighten citizens about the development plan for the old city area.

The BJP on Wednesday organised a lecture by architect Dinesh Chandratre, which was attended by party corporators. Following the lecture, BJP leaders in the PMC held discussions with party workers and drafted a mass campaign plan. The campaign will be launched on June 2 and conclude on June 10.