Aditya Thackeray urges govt to open Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro now, without waiting for inauguration

The inauguration of the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro line has been stalled for the past four months. The date fixed for November 3 has also been pushed back. The inauguration keeps getting delayed as the Prime Minister's time is not available, and IT professionals and local residents are angry as a result.

Against this backdrop, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MLA Aditya Thackeray has advised the Chief Minister. "To end the hardship of citizens, start this Metro for passengers immediately without observing the formality of an inauguration; if the Prime Minister gets time later, hold a grand ceremony then," he said. He was speaking at a press conference held after he saw the poor state of infrastructure around the Hinjewadi IT Park.

Referring to a visit to Chakan and Hinjewadi last month, Thackeray said that after he raised the issues of bad roads and water here, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had immediately held a meeting and announced a package. But nothing has changed on the ground, he said. He also said the committee set up to coordinate among government agencies is sitting idle, citing the model code of conduct. As a result, he said, the situation in the IT hub is worsening by the day.

Calling Hinjewadi IT Park an important industrial centre of the state, Thackeray said it houses offices of world-famous Fortune 500 companies. But the moment one steps outside the gates of these companies, the harsh reality of potholes, heavy traffic jams and inconveniences stares one in the face, he said. He said no concrete effort by the government to improve citizens' quality of life and break the traffic jams is visible.

Thackeray also criticised the administration over water shortage and contaminated water. He said residents near the IT park are currently being supplied contaminated water. He said it is highly wrong that local government agencies are shrugging off responsibility for water supply while approving new construction. He demanded that the administration stop evading responsibility and immediately provide adequate and clean water to residents.

Thackeray drew attention to the fact that while the Metro inauguration is stalled, problems of roads, traffic and water remain as they were, and insisted that the Metro be opened to passengers at once.