NASHIK: Neo Metro project is important for Nashik city. In the last year’s union budget, the Centre had announced Neo Metro and it was expected that the budget would approve the project in totality. The state government has approved its 20 per cent stake in the project and 60 per cent of the equity fund has been sanctioned.
Despite the announcement in the previous year’s budget, the Neo Metro project did not receive final approval in the February 1 union budget. On this backdrop, MP Hemant Godse has expressed feeling that there is no option before Nashikites but to wait again.
On the other hand, the Nashik Pune railway project is also very important for the overall development of Nashik district. The state government has already sanctioned 20 per cent of its share, or Rs 3,200 crore, for the project and 60 per cent of the equity fund has also been sanctioned. MP Godse in December last had raised the issue of Nashik–Pune rail link in Parliament, demanding final approval.
The proposed project, estimated to cost around Rs 16,000 crore, has already received in-principle approval from the Railway Board and the Railway Ministry. However, the issue of 20 per cent funding of the Centre’s share is still pending and Nashikites are still waiting for the final approval of Nashik-Pune railway line. No such announcwment was made in this year’s budget as well.
MP Godse in a letter to Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri writes: “The first tyre-based Neo Metro railway project in the whole country had received green signal. The Maharashtra government had also sent this proposal to the Center for approval three years ago, but there was a deficiency in it, again the state government, after settling those shortcomings, had forwarded it to Centre. The union govt had then made announcement in the last budget session. It’s been a year since then,” it stated seeking green signal.
Neo Metro project is important for the development of Nashik city. For Nashik’s Neo project, the Maharashtra government has proposed 20%, the central government 20% and the 60% o be raised through equity. In this, 20% of the Maharashtra government has been approved. 60% of the equity has also been recognised.
