Pune: The state govt will spend Rs 2,550 crore for development of third and fourth railway line between Pune and Lonavla, and the amount will be shared by PMC, PCMC, local bodies, and the state govt. The new lines approved by the state govt earlier this month are expected to make rail traffic between Pune and Mumbai faster. The financial aspects of the project were approved by the Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday. The total cost of the project has been pegged at Rs 5,100 crore, of which half will be borne by the Centre and the rest by the state govt.As per the plan, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will bear 20% of Rs 2,550 crore each. PMRDA will bear 30% of the amount, and the remaining amount will be borne by the state govt and local bodies.“While it is early to say when the construction will start, one of the aims is to strengthen the suburban train network once the new lines are operational. The new lines will result in more train movements between the two cities. This will result in easing road congestion, too,” a railway official told TOI.Close to 80 trains, including mail/express trains and suburban trains, operate between Pune and Mumbai daily. Presently, there are two lines between Pune and Lonavla. These include inter-city trains between Pune and Mumbai. Close to 12,000 passengers travel on an average daily between the two cities on inter-city trains. Also, there are 42 suburban services between Pune and Lonavla each day, with an average daily passenger traffic of 60,000.
