A fresh political controversy has erupted in Pune over the origins and delays of the city's ambitious Metro rail project. Bharatiya Janata Party (MP) Muralidhar Mohol has squarely blamed the previous United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre and former district guardian minister Ajit Pawar for the project's stagnation.
Allegations of Delay and Cost Escalation
Mohol asserted that the Pune Metro proposal made little to no progress between 2001 and 2014, a period when the UPA ruled at the national level. He claimed this prolonged delay directly resulted in a significant cost escalation, with the project's estimated price tag ballooning from Rs 8,000 crore to Rs 10,183 crore.
He further accused the then-united Nationalist Congress Party, led by Ajit Pawar, of initially pushing for a fully underground Metro system for Pune. According to Mohol, the NCP only changed its stance and supported a mixed (elevated and underground) model after it became clear that an elevated Metro would be substantially less expensive.
A Timeline of Claims and Counterclaims
The war of words began after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar stated that the Pune Metro project was approved during the tenure of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Mohol countered this narrative with a detailed timeline of events under the BJP-led NDA government.
"The Union Cabinet headed by PM Narendra Modi approved Pune Metro's Phase 1 on December 7, 2016," Mohol stated. He highlighted that the groundbreaking ceremony followed swiftly on December 24, 2016, in the Prime Minister's presence. The first operational stretch was inaugurated by PM Modi on March 6, 2022. Furthermore, the Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Metro stretch was approved in February 2018 and its work launched in November 2018.
The BJP has now included the Metro's expansion over the next five years in its civic polls manifesto, asserting that the project was fast-tracked only after their party came to power.
Congress Rebuttal and Credit Debate
Adding another layer to the dispute, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan entered the fray. Chavan insisted that official documents confirm the Pune Metro's approval was granted when Kamal Nath served as the Union Minister for Urban Development.
He explained that alongside Mumbai and Pune, Nagpur—as the state's second capital—was also considered in the planning. "No question arises of taking credit for the project," Chavan remarked, subtly critiquing the ongoing political blame game. His statement underscores the complex, multi-party history of the large-scale infrastructure project, which has now become a focal point for electoral campaigning in the city.
