Pune Mirror: Pune: Monday, June 18, 2018.
Authorities
respond to RTI query stating they have no information on the layout or the
distance between stations. Families likely to be affected have pointed out that
there are two other stations nearby already.
Months after
the Pune Metro decided to relocate its Budhwar Peth station to Kasba Peth,
officials apparently have no information about the proposed alignment layout or
the distance between stations in the area. Around 288 families of Phadke Haud,
who are likely to be affected by the new station, claim that officials are
merely trying to conceal the details and leave residents in the dark. They have
also pointed out that there is no need for a metro station in their locality as
there are two others being planned a kilometre away on either side.
It all began
in April this year when officials approached Kasba Peth resident Suresh Jain
for a survey and he realised that a metro station was being planned due to
which he would need to relocate. Jain’s family have been living in the area for
83 years in a house bought by his grandfather.
Taken aback,
Jain filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to find out
who all were being affected and to get clarity on the layout, the distance from
the previous stations and the reason for the shift. To his surprise, the Pune
Metro officials responded saying that they did not have the details.
“We don’t
have the details of why the station is being shifted. The construction will be
done as per design and building methods. The layout will be proposed
considering all technical aspects. So currently, the details for the distance
are not available,” the reply stated.
Alleging that
officials were cheating the residents, Jain said, “People had approached us and
asked us to fill up a form with details of our property. This is when we came
to know about the change of plan for the metro station. So, on behalf of all
the residents, I filed an RTI application asking for details. On one hand, the
Pune Metro officials are publishing the old layouts on their website and social
media pages. On the other, the people conducting these surveys have details of
the proposed layouts. But when we file an official application, they claim that
they don’t have the information. We don’t want to move houses. In fact, we
don’t think a station is needed here since the other stations (Civil Court and
Shrinath Talkies) are within a kilometre on either side.”
Taking their
cue from Jain, residents have now come together and written to the Metro
authorities to scrap the proposed station entirely. Rajesh Chhajed, another
resident, said “When we quiz the people conducting the survey, they just ask us
to fill up the form, but refuse to give away details about the purpose of the
survey and the proposed layout. While we have unofficially obtained copies of
the layout in which the properties affected can be seen, when asked officially,
they are denying us the details. Also, when we check their social media pages,
they show the old alignments. How are we supposed to get clarity on what
exactly is happening?”
Reiterating
on why there is no need for a station here, another resident, who asked not to
be named, said, “The Metro is going to be underground so that won’t affect our
homes. But if they construct the station here, we will be forced to relocate.
There are two other stations nearby why do they want one here?”
When quizzed
about the situation, Pune Metro officials merely said that the proposal is
ready and ideally, the details should have been provided. Brijesh Dixit,
managing director, Pune Metro, said “The survey is being done to minimise the
destruction of properties and ensure that fewer families are affected. Also,
while some properties will be damaged permanently, some will be used
temporarily, where we are giving residents the option of coming back once the
work is done. All of this can be decided only after the survey and hence people
were asked to furnish details. But we are ready with the layouts and plans and
the information should certainly have been provided to them. I will look into
it and if they approach me, I am ready to discuss the details. However, since
the area is densely populated, it is necessary that we have a station there.”
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