In a fresh political skirmish over infrastructure credit, senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has firmly stated that the Pune Metro project was approved during the Congress regime at both the state and central levels. His statement on Friday directly supports Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who earlier countered the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) narrative of initiating the metro project.
The Credit War Heats Up
Chavan made these remarks while releasing the Congress party's manifesto for the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections. "It is true that the Metro in Pune was approved by the state government when I was the Chief Minister and the Congress government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," Chavan declared. This assertion reinforces Pawar's statement from Wednesday, where he attributed the project's approval to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre.
The BJP has consistently taken credit for the Pune Metro's implementation. Responding to the latest claims, BJP leader and Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol accused the Congress and NCP of attempting to claim credit for a project they failed to execute. "The Pune Metro was given in-principle approval by the Union government in 2013 while urging to resolve some issues concerning the project, which the Congress government in the state failed to do," Mohol argued. He emphasized that the project stalled during Congress's rule and received its final approval only in 2016 after the BJP came to power at the Centre.
Congress's Broader Pitch for Pune
Beyond the metro debate, Chavan used the platform to outline the Congress's vision for Pune, contrasting it with the current administration's record. He highlighted the Congress's past contributions to the city's development through schemes like the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), which facilitated road widening and other urban upgrades.
Chavan launched a sharp critique against the ruling Mahayuti alliance partners in the PMC, alleging rampant corruption. "All the three alliance partners of the Mahayuti are merely busy accumulating monetary gains through corrupt practices," he charged. He also questioned the progress of the Smart City mission, asking, "The BJP announced that it would develop Pune as a smart city but where has that happened after spending so much money?"
Focus on Civic Failures and Industry Exodus
The former Chief Minister linked Pune's current civic crises to a decline in its industrial appeal. He pointed out that while industries flourished during the Congress's tenure, they are now moving out due to severe traffic congestion and infrastructure collapse. "Pune naturally has a good opportunity for industry to flourish but the collapse of civic infrastructure and corruption have prevented industries from flourishing here and instead go to other states," Chavan stated. He further blamed the PMC's leadership for the city's deteriorating air and water quality.
This exchange underscores how major infrastructure projects like the Pune Metro have become focal points for political contention, especially in the heated run-up to the crucial civic body elections. The battle over narrative seeks to influence voter perception about which party truly has a legacy of development and a credible plan for Pune's future.
