Title - Pune citizens may get better transport facilities - Pune - DNA

This year is likely to bring cheer for Puneites in terms of improvement of road, rail and air connectivity in Pune.

Modernisation of Pune airport

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to take up modernisation work of the Pune air base under its ambitious project Modernisation of Airfield Infrastructure (MAFI) project this year which will benefit the civil airport too.

The IAF has decided to implement its MAFI project at its 26 air bases of which the maiden project at Bhatinda air base has already been implemented. Now, the Pune airbase will be the second airbase where this project will be implemented. Under this project, Pune airport will get modern gadgets like Instrument Landing System (ILS), CAT2 (new airfield landing), automated area traffic control system. Thiswill help both IAF and civilian flights operators to improve the air space management.

Speeding up of BRTS project The long pending Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project in Pune is expected to get some momentum in 2013 asJNNURM director SK Lohia has directed the authorities to complete the BRTS in a year.The pilot project of the BRTS was started in 2006 but it never really took off. But now, Lohia in his recent visits to Pune, has directed them to make BRTS a successful project. PMPML is planning to connect eight suburbs of Pune and PCMC with new 68 km routes including Warje-Kharadi route, Kothrud depot-Vishrantwadi route, Katraj-Kalewadi route and Hadapsar-Dhayari route.

Pune railway station to be upgraded The Pune railway authorities have recently increased the length of the platform number six. Now, trains having capacity to carry more passengers can stop at Pune railway station. The compartments of the existing trains can be increased so that more passengers can travel from Pune railway station. The station is expected to get 40 to 45 modern CCTV cameras with a software which will recognise the face of a person who often visits the railway station and that will help the railway police officials to keep a close watch suspicious persons. The Central Railway has listed Pune railway station among seven stations where a cleanliness manual will be maintained and the divisional railway manager will be monitoring the cleanliness.