If the proposal becomes a reality, the Aundh-Ravet stretch of the Bus Rapid Transit route can be completed

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has put forth a proposal to transfer a plot of government land to the defence authorities elsewhere in the state in lieu of defence land for development works. These include land for the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) on one section of the Aundh- Ravet route.

<img align="left" src="http://www.qbtpl.net/images/shell.jpg">Municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma said the defence authorities have asked for a compensation package of Rs 159 crore or 70 acres from the civic body for lands acquired by the it from the defence authorities for development works.

"The PCMC has agreed to give land to the defence department from the government land bank," he said. Hundreds of acres of land owned by the government in the state constitute the land bank. A proposal has been forwarded through the office of the divisional commissioner to the central government, Sharma said.

Construction of a 4-km road between Aundh and Sai junction near Pimpale Saudagar, on the 14.5 km Aundh-Ravet route, has been delayed due to issues related to the transfer of defence land. Work on the Rs 200-crore project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission began in September 2008. The road will be an access to the expressway from Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The civic body will also start work on two other BRT routes one from Kalewadi phata to Dehu Alandi road, and the second from Nashik phata to Wakad. Both projects estimated at Rs 291 crore will receive a World Bank loan.