Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has directed the officials concerned that the first phase of the proposed international exhibition and convention centre at Moshi, on Pune-Nashik Road, should be ready by 2012, said divisional commissioner Dilip Band.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Band said the CM on Wednesday gave his nod to the project after a meeting with deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and senior officials from Pune.
“Chavan has ordered to complete its first phase within two years,” Band added. The Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) president, Abhay Firodia, MCCIA former president, Pratap Pawar, MCCIA executive director, Anant Sardeshmukh, Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma and Pimpri Chinchwad New Town Development Authority (PCNTDA) CEO, Suhas Divase, attended the press meet.
Band said a presentation was made before the CM and he decided that the project should be completed with the initiative of the state government. A 240-acre plot of land is marked for the project, of which 180 acres will be used to develop exhibition halls and convention centre and a golf club.
He said the project costs Rs600 crore, of which Rs140 crore would be spent on the first phase.
A special purpose vehicle (SPV) has been formed by the state government under the chairmanship of urban development secretary. The PCNTDA owns the land meant for the project. It would hand over Rs100 crore for the SPV. Also, the central government would provide Rs50 crore. Thus the initial Rs150 crore will be raised to start work.
Funds would be raised for the project by auctioning plots of land for hotels, offices and residential purpose. Once the project is completed a private operator with expertise in marketing the exhibition centre at international level would be involved on
public-private partnership (PPP) basis.
Abhay Firodia said the state government has taken a bold decision to go ahead with the project. The exhibition centre will benefit the industry in Pune, as it would provide a platform to project itself at national and international levels.
Comments