Pune: The opening of three metro stations — Kasba Peth , Mandai and Swargate— would have gone a long way in decongesting traffic in the core parts of Pune, reduced the pressure on roads in several other areas and better connected Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad . But a change in plans on Thursday morning over the inauguration of the stretch connecting Civil Court to Swargate has brought those hopes to nought till a decision is made. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to inaugurate the stretch and after his travel it was to be thrown open for citizens.
His visit was cancelled due to a heavy rain alert. BJP's city unit president Dheeraj Ghate said that the stretch will open for commuters at the earliest, adding that a virtual inauguration by the PM or rescheduling his visit were being explored. Executive director of Maha Metro Hemant Sonawane said, "The weather alert led to the cancellation of the function.
We are waiting for further communication on the opening." Other metro officials said that instructions from the state and central govt were awaited. Commuters expecting to use the Metro till Swargate on Thursday were displeased.
Many said that the project was constructed from taxpayers' money and the metro must be made operational immediately while the inauguration can be held when the VIPs are available. Ashish Deshpande, a regular metro commuter, said delaying the opening is illogical as the metro is for commuters. "There is no need to wait for VIPs to open it as they can visi.
