BOT Basis Needed For Pimpri-Chinchwad Commercial Complex: Sharma

(Times of India, Oct 21, 2010)
PUNE: The Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma will shortly send his report to the state government about the commercial complex being developed at Chinchwad on build operate transfer (BOT) basis.
The state government has sought Sharma’s comments about the commercial complex project following a letter sent by former Congress corporator Raju Golande to chief minister Ashok Chavan requesting him to direct the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to cancel bids for the commercial complex and develop the complex on its own.
Explaining the reason for developing the commercial complex on BOT basis instead of using civic funds, Sharma said, “The Zone B office of the civic body is located in a municipal school building near Chapekar chowk and there is a need for a separate building. Initially, the PCMC had taken a decision to build the office on the open plot near the new bus terminus and the construction had begun, but we found that there were roads on three sides of the plot and the site was not ideal for an office.”
Sharma added that the civic body meanwhile got a large portion of land from Elpro company for civic amenities under the industrial to residential conversion scheme. “So, we decided to build the office there, and since the previous site was ideal for a commercial complex we decided to develop it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Golande said, “The complex is under construction for the past five years. PCMC needs to spend around Rs 20 lakh to complete the project, and it can earn Rs 20 crore from leasing shops in it. Hence, it should develop the remaining part of the project on its own.”
Commissioner Sharma, however, rejected the demand saying that PCMC would need to spend about Rs 2 crore to complete the project and there was nothing wrong in developing the complex on BOT basis.