As the two main Metro routes – Purple Line and Aqua Line – have become fully operational in the city, the Pune civic body has expedited the preparation for a dedicated Local Area Plan (LAP) for additional Metro stations. The plan aims to ensure optimum densification within the 500-metre radius of the stations, facilitating maximum use of the Metro rail system. As a pilot project, the LAP for Metro stations at Swargate and Ramnagar in Baner is being prepared by Design Point Consult at a cost of Rs 1.12 crore while that for Metro stations at Pune Railway station and Vanaz is being prepared by IBI Group India for Rs 1.34 crore. "A budgetary provision of Rs 5 crore has been made by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for 2025-26 for preparing LAP for other Metro stations," said Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale. In 2019, the Maharashtra government approved the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) policy to encourage more people to settle near Metro stations. Accordingly, a 500-metre radius around Metro stations was fixed as the TOD zone and the Floor Space Indices (FSI) in this area was relaxed. TOD encourages the development of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces near transit hubs, with an aim to reduce long commutes and promote sustainable urban planning. LAP will be designed based on the TOD policy. Bhosale emphasised that the primary objective of LAP is to ensure optimum densification with provision of civic facilities near Metro stations. "The civic body has started giving permission for high rise buildings with increased permissible Floor Space Index (FSI) in the 500-m radius of Metro stations as per TOD policy. This is going to increase the population density of the area," the municipal commissioner said. Accordingly, the PMC will have to address the basic civic needs of residents which are Garden, Parking Space, Hospital and other essential facilities within the vicinity for which LAP must be prepared. Currently, Metro services from Pimpri Chinchwad to Swargate and Vanaz to Ramwadi have become operational, while that from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar will be launched by year-end. Together, these three Metro lines cover approximately 37.3 km and include 36 stations. Work for extending the routes from Pimpri Chinchwad to Nigdi and Swargate to Katraj has begun while work on other routes, including Khadakwasla to Kharadi via Swargate and Hadapsar, Nal Stop to Manikbaug, Vanaz to Chandni chowk, Ramwadi to Wagholi via Kharadi, Hadapsar to Loni Kalbhor and Saswad will start after getting the approval from the Central government. The LAP will ensure effective street network and connectivity, efficient integration with public transit, parking management for the area, effective utilisation of land under public domain, ensuring optimum FSI utilisation, redevelopment potential, upgrading physical infrastructure, sufficient social amenities for high-density population, ensuring gender safety and pedestrian-friendly environment.
