Centre to clear Pune Metro Rail project in June: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said all the formalities for the proposed Pune Metro Rail project have been completed and it will be cleared by the Centre next month.
"All formalities regarding the Pune Metro Rail project have been completed and after nod from the Public Investment Board (PIB) in June, the proposal will be sent back to the state government," Fadnavis said.
"After the state government's nod, tenders will be floated and work on Pune Metro will be expedited," he added.
Fadnavis said this at a press conference after holding meetings with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) over various developmental issues.

The proposal of Pune Metro Rail Project, which has completed almost all stages, is lying with the Central government's Urban Development Ministry for approval.
"Union Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu has personally monitored the entire project and he is making sure that it gets approved. That is why, a meeting of PIB has been summoned to finalise the project," Fadnavis said.

When asked whether his government has finalised the land for the proposed international airport in Pune district, he said three to four sites are being considered for the project.
"However, I cannot divulge the locations as of now. If I tell these places, the situation will become volatile in those areas," the Chief Minister said.

About the expansion plan of the existing Lohegaon Airport in Pune, Fadnavis said he is sure that the issue of approving the use of additional 15 acres for the airport facilities will be resolved.
"I am sure that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will address the issue of handing over the land to Airport Authority of India (AAI)," he said.