Pune, August 25 Civic body proposes to raise Rs 2,600-crore urban transport fund for metro, Rs 2,300 crore for ring road land acquisition The long awaited public transport system to resolve the traffic woes of the city is finally on its way. On Monday, the state government asked the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to put up a proposal seeking additional Floor Space Index (FSI) for structures in the adjoining area of the BRTS and Metro Rail projects for making them more viable. The civic administration has also been asked to send a proposal to raise Rs 2,600 crore as urban transport fund for self-financing the Metro Rail. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had called a meeting of the divisional commissioner, district collector, municipal commissioners of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad in Mumbai to discuss the development of basic infrastructure for the city. Union Agriculture Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Pune guardian minister Ajit Pawar and city legislators attended the meeting. "We proposed a number of projects for the development of basic infrastructure including the public transport system, but it should be implemented properly in a time frame,' the chief minister said in a release. Pawar suggested that a detailed study should be undertaken for fulfilling the basic needs of road, water and power in the rapidly growing development in the fringe areas due to industrialisation and planning should be done as per these needs. "The state government has welcomed the PMC proposal for additional FSI in the adjoining area of the public transport system to raise money for the self financing of the Metro Rail project and also making it more viable,' said T C Benjamin, Principal Secretary (Urban Development). Benjamin said the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) for the development of the metropolitan region would be set up by December. The survey for outer ring road for the city is complete and the process for its execution would begin within four months, he said adding the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) would implement the project and it has been proposed to raise Rs 2,300 crore for land acquisition through additional FSI alongside ring road. Municipal Commissioner Praveensinh Pardeshi said the PMC have proposed an FSI of two for areas alongside BRTS route and an FSI of three for the Metro corridor. "This will help us in self-financing the first phase of 30-km Metro Rail project and also make the public transport more viable,' Pardeshi said. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) would be set up for the Metro Rail through the urban transport fund, he said. "The discussion was to have government intervention in terms of funds or any other hurdles which could help speed up the implementation of the projects for Pune Metropolitan Region,' said Divisional Commissioner Nitin Kareer. Discussions were held for some possible changes in the SRA, immediate implementation of ring road, preparation of cabinet note in 15 days for the international airport, international exhibition centre, comprehensive mobility plan for the implementation of flyovers and bridges and public transport, he said. On the objections raised about the reduction in the free sale component for the builders in Pune's slum rehabilitation authority (SRA) projects on the lines of the formula drawn up for Mumbai, the chief minister said a rational study would be carried out to arrive at the free sale component that could be given. FSI as per global standards will be given for an international exhibition centre at Nigdi and height restrictions of ground plus two will also be changed for the project that will come up in 100 acres. Order to hasten land acquisition In a move to speed up work on the proposed international airport at Chakan near Pune, directions were issued to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company to hasten the land acquisition process. Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar suggested that the airport should be called Rajgurunagar Airport as it was coming up in the Rajgurunagar area. The birth centenary of Shivram Hari Rajguru was celebrated on Sunday. Pawar also called for the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (MCCIA) to be involved in the international exhibition centre project. * Additional FSI proposed alongside Metro and BRTS route for making public transport viable * MSRDC to implement outer ring road project in four months * Formation of PMRDA by December * Expedite execution of Metro project * MCCIA to be involved for international exhibition centre at Moshi * Promotion of high-density housing