The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday laid out its vision for Pune's development by releasing its manifesto for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections. The document, with a strong emphasis on overhauling the city's public transport and infrastructure, was unveiled by key party leaders including Pune MP and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Muralidhar Mohol.
Core Promises: Transport and Connectivity Take Center Stage
The manifesto places significant thrust on improving Pune's mobility and connectivity. A major promise is the extension of Metro rail services across the city to ease traffic congestion. The party has also pledged to strengthen the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), the city's public bus service, and undertake a comprehensive upgrade of the road network.
Enhancing air connectivity is another priority, with the BJP committing to the expansion of the Lohegaon airport. This move is aimed at better linking Pune with other major cities. Furthermore, the manifesto promises focused attention on the development of recently merged areas within the PMC limits, ensuring equitable growth.
Ambitious Tunnel Project and Completion of Pending Works
In a bold announcement, a senior BJP member revealed that an ambitious plan to build a 54-kilometer network of tunnels under the "Palal-lok" project has been included in the manifesto. This project, recently highlighted by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a Katraj rally, aims to solve the city's persistent transport woes. Key areas proposed to be connected through this underground network include Katraj, Yerwada, Swargate, Sinhagad Road, Kothrud, Aundh, and Khadki, among others.
Muralidhar Mohol emphasized the party's track record, stating that various projects launched over the past eight years are nearing completion. He specifically mentioned initiatives for equitable water supply and pollution abatement in the Mula-Mutha rivers. "Work on a Metro project started in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was inaugurated by him. This shows BJP is not only announcing projects but ensuring they are completed to benefit people," Mohol said.
Political Context and Electoral Targets
The BJP, which is contesting the PMC polls solo this time, has set an ambitious internal target of winning at least 100 seats. The party had secured 97 seats in the previous civic election held in 2017. Mohol, without directly naming the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress, criticized the governance of the civic body prior to 2017, implying voters were dissatisfied with their two-decade-long performance.
"People decided to vote them out and elected BJP in 2017. Thereafter, they continued their support in the general and assembly elections of 2019 and 2024. The party is expecting similar support in the forthcoming poll," he asserted. Releasing the manifesto alongside state cabinet ministers Chandrakant Patil and Madhuri Misal, Mohol described it as a "document of Vikasit (developed) Pune" and vowed to start working on fulfilling the promises immediately after regaining power in the PMC.
