pune

Updated: Jul 21, 2017 16:10 IST

The Agriculture College located at Shivajinagar gives nod to acquire 28.44 acres of land for the Pune Metrorail project. One of the biggest hurdles of the Pune Metro has been cleared.

The agriculture minister and NCP leader Sharad Pawar was also in oppose of handing over this land to the Pune Metro.

The Agriculture College is coming under the jurisdiction of Mahatma Phule Agriculture University located at Rahuri.

Mahatma Phule Agriculture University’s Vice Chancellor Dr K P Viswanatha confirmed to Hindustan Times that they have given the approval for handing over the land by considering its importance in public project.

Talking to Hindustan Times Mahametro’s Managing Director Brijesh Dixit said “Recently Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis took the meeting with all the concern authorities and instructed to the agriculture college to hand over the land. The Mahametro is really thankful for the agriculture college for giving nod for handing over this important land for the project.”

Dixit said that chief minister himself is looking in Metro project personally and is clearing all the hurdles.

Chief Minister has clearly instructed that the metro project should not get hurdles at any cost and authorities should be proactive and provide all the necessary things for it.

Dixit said, “Other all facilities can be shifted from present location but unfortunately we cannot change metro’s alignment. It has to run in the city. Other facilities can be erected somewhere. We are really thankful for Agriculture University for handing over this land for erecting nerve centre of the metro rail project.”

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Project proposed the metro nerve center at Agriculture college land.

However NCP leader Sharad Pawar, state agriculture department and college of agriculture, Shivajinagar all opposed it earlier.

Viswanatha said, “Instead of acquiring agriculture college’s 28 acres of land, the administration suggested the pune metro to take uncultivated land of Dairy department which is located at Khadki. This land is important for education purpose and is in cultivation for last 100 years. It is India’s first Agricultural College.

“The college administration has also pointed out that the academic activities of the College would be affected and as per the norms of Indian Council of Agriculture Research the agriculture land needs to be in same premises.”

Mahametro work Stations

The Mahametro is carrying out the work of two metro corridors

PCMC to Swargate: 16.58 kms

Vanaz to Ramwadi: 14.66 kms

Total Project cost: 11,522 crore

Estimated requirement of land : 44 hectors

Project started: December 2016

Estimate completion: 2021