Professionals Party wants broad gauge for metro rail

Times News Network

Pune: Professionals Party Of India (PPI) on Wednesday demanded that Broad Gauge (BG) tracks should be laid for the proposed metro rail project in Pune, instead of the approved standard-gauge (SG) tracks.

V K Rane, former managing director of a transport and infrastructure company and a member of the PPI, said the cost of using indigenous BG is lower than the imported SG.

Moreover, he said, the broad gauge would have 35 per cent more capacity to carry passengers and would cost 75 per cent less as compared to the standard gauge.

According to Rane, the SG has been built to accommodate increase in passenger load over the next 25 years, while the BG would stand good for the next 75 years.

                Alleging that the state had been misled by proponents of the standard gauge, Rane said, “The government should have at least consulted the railway authorities before arriving at a decision.” Since the construction of the metro rail fell under the purview of the Union government, the state government’s decision was unconstitutional, he added.

                The PPI members have demanded that the decision to use BG be re-examined, as it would be an efficient public transport system and would help reduce the number of private vehicles on the roads.