Panel okays cost escalation of Aundh-Ravet BRTS

The standing committee of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has escalated the cost of the Aundh-Ravet bus rapid transit system (BRTS) project by Rs18 crore for constructing a flyover at Sangvi phata. In the last week, the committee had okayed Rs13 crore escalation for the same project. Hence, the total cost of Aundh-Ravet BRTS project has reached Rs380 crore.  

The standing committee members approved the resolution on Tuesday on the basis of a short notice resolution. Though there was no any provision for a flyover at Sangvi phata in the development plan, the standing committee has approved the resolution.

The opposition party corporators claimed that the committee had given its nod for constructing the flyover due to the pressure from the Nationalist Congress Party MLA.  

On December 4, the committee made an escalation of Rs13.63 crore in the cost of widening and relaying the Aundh-Ravet Road.  
The civic body is widening five of the total seven stretches in phases. Earlier, the civic body could not widen the road in the first two phases as there was a delay in acquiring defence land. Now, the civic body has widened the road near Aundh Hospital, which has reduced traffic congestion on this important road.

The work on widening five sections of the Aundh-Ravet Road from Aundh Hospital to Ravet is 90% complete and is expected to be ready by end of this month. The Aundh-Ravet Road is 14.4 km long.

This road has been divided into seven sections and contracts have been awarded to widen and relay these sections. The widening work began in 2008.