Pune: Metros extension from the PCMC office towards Nigdi is unlikely to face delays as the route will not require any major land parcels, barring space for the entry-exit points of three stations.The project, worth over Rs 900 crore, recently received the Union governments final nod. MahaMetrosaid the actual work on ground is expected to begin around February.It has started a preliminary survey to identify the locations of stations and the landings for entry-exit points. As per the plan, the stations will come up at Chinchwad, Akurdi and Nigdi at Bhakti-Shakti chowk.An official said, The project is an extension of the existing route. It will not require a major land parcel. The viaduct will be aligned at the median of the existing old Pune-Mumbai highway. The route will cover 4.4 km without many deviations. The project will take over three years to be completed.A viaduct has been stretched ahead of the PCMC station. There is a plan to extend this viaduct towards Chinchwad. A final plan of execution with minor details will be worked out soon, especially the viaduct alignment at the flyovers at Nigdi chowk and Bhakti Shakti chowk, officials said.Officials said they will soon hold talks with the PCMC on locations of the stations and requirement of land. We will work in coordination to avoid any further complications, officials said.The extension is likely to benefit those working in the industrial sector in Chinchwad and Akurdi areas, as well as students travelling to education institutes in Nigdi and Akurdi.Regular commuters said the extension till Nigdi should have been done along with phase 1. Vishal Pokale, a resident of Chinchwad, said commuters will have to wait for another three years for metro services.We also published the following articles recentlyPune station, airport officials draw up plans to handle Diwali crowdOfficials at Pune railway station and airport are preparing for the high volume of passengers expected during Diwali. Passengers have expressed concerns about delays and overcrowding in previous years. Railway officials have planned a passenger-hold area for north-bound trains, and have requested additional special trains. The railway station usually sees 1.2 lakh passengers daily, but this is expected to increase to over 1.40 lakh during Diwali. Additional staff and ticket counters will be provided. At the airport, passengers are advised to report three hours prior to departure and use DigiYatra for a smoother experience.US officials, lawmakers express support for extension of Africa trade programmeUS officials and lawmakers have expressed support for extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants eligible African countries duty-free access to US markets. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on the US Congress to extend the program for a longer period than the previous 10-year extension. More than 30 African countries participated in the AGOA trade forum, showcasing various products. US lawmakers stated that extending AGOA is important for Africas economic growth. President Joe Biden announced the intention to remove Niger, Gabon, the Central African Republic, and Uganda from AGOA. Ramaphosa believes the extension will provide certainty and encourage more trade.Maharashtra: Delay in inaugurating Digha station inconveniences commutersResidents and commuters in Airoli and Digha are facing inconvenience due to the delay in the opening of the new railway station on the Thane Vashi trans-harbour railway route. The completion of the stations two platforms raised hopes of saving time and effort for thousands of daily commuters. However, after six months, the station is still not open, forcing people to either take a longer road route or risk walking on the railway tracks. The delay is causing inconvenience for commuters and also depriving the railways of potential revenue.

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