Smart Cities scheme aimed to ease traffic or add to chaos: BJP MLAs
Smart Cities Mission
, which was launched by their own govt in 2015.
Hundred cities were selected for the Smart Cities Mission that concluded this March. The opposition parties have since criticised the BJP-led govts at Center and state over the programme's outcomes, with BJP's own MLA, Rahul Kul from Daund, expressing dissatisfaction in the assembly about the project's implementation in Pune.
Raising the issue of traffic congestion faced by Pune residents, Kul said, "If we look at some works under the Smart Cities Mission, one does not know if the plan was executed to resolve the traffic issues or to add to the chaos.
Under the project, the roads were made narrower and the width of the footpaths was increased."
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Kul advocated for integrated planning to resolve Pune's traffic troubles. "The traffic congestion in Pune has become chronic and emergency-like. Therefore, there is a demand from elected representatives to hold a weekly review meeting to find a solution to the growing traffic menace," he said.
The Daund MLA's party colleague and Bhosari MLA, Mahesh Landge, also raised the Pune's traffic problem in the assembly on Wednesday.
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"When we are travelling within the city, we have to face the wrath of the citizens as they are fed up with constant traffic issues. While the developments in PMC, PCMC and PMRDA limits are going at a fast pace, it is also leading to more traffic congestion, which state govt would have to find a solution for, at the earliest," Landge said.
While cabinet minister Dada Bhuse, on behalf of state govt, told the assembly that the work on the Pune ring road had started, Landge said, "Though govt claims that the work has started, the ground situation is different.
When the actual work starts, govt should also ensure that all the infrastructural work is completed within the deadline. Only then will it be useful for the present population."
Bhuse assured that the ring road work would be completed by Dec 2027. "As far as the mega projects in the state are concerned, the chief minister, along with his deputies, are taking monthly reviews of those projects. Pune's ring road is part of those projects, and govt will ensure that the 168-km-long project is completed within the stipulated deadline," Bhuse said in the assembly.
Rasane demands 40% tax discount for properties in PMC limits
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Pune: Kasba Peth MLA Hemant Rasane on Wednesday urged state govt to provide a 40% discount on property tax for all properties within Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) limits. He also advocated for relaxed side margin norms to facilitate the redevelopment of old wadas and properties.
Rasane was speaking during the discussion on supplementary demands of the Urban Development Department (UDD) at the state assembly session.
He said, "At present, PMC provides a 40% tax rebate only on properties where the owner resides. The rebate is not applicable if tenants occupy the property. This condition should be waived, and all the property owners should receive this discount."
According to Rasane, his constituency consists of many old wadas, and the one-metre side margin requirement under UDCPR rules is creating obstacles in redevelopment. He also demanded that SOPs should be issued urgently by making reforms in traffic plans, the TDR process, construction permissions and redevelopment rules in Metro's TOD zones.
The MLA advocated for speeding up TDR allocation in PMC and the use of the PPP model for the redevelopment of old govt colonies.
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