Pune: DEPUTY Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said both the state and central governments are implementing several plans to change the face of Pune.

Addressing his first election rally in the city on Wednesday evening, Fadnavis said both the state and central governments have taken a slew of steps to make Pune a liveable, sustainable and pollution-free city. ''Pune city will get 24 X 7 drinking water. Besides, we are ensuring that the sewage water is released in the river only after every drop of water is treated in the sewage treatment plants...As a result, Pune will once again get to see clean, pure and pollution-free river..We will restore the glory of Mula-Mutha..Our governments has been trying to change the face of Pune through several steps,'' he said.

Fadnavis praised the role played by Madhuri Misal as a people's representative. ''When our leaders brought a proposal before regarding starting our election campaign, I insisted that the campaign should begin in Pune from Parvati assembly seat. This is because our candidate Madhuri Misal has been an efficient MLA who has carved an image for herself among the masses for her outstanding work...I have no doubt in mind that Madhuritai Misal will score her fourth successive and a record win,'' Fadnavis said while addressing an election rally in Parvati assembly constituency this evening.

Fadnavis said Madhuri Misal had a big role to play in framing of rules for Slum Rehabilitation Project. ''When officials came to with the file containing SRA rules, I told them that they should first get approval from Madhuritai. This is because Madhuri Misal had been for7-8 years fighting for getting houses for slum-dwellers, making the scheme feasible and getting increased FSI. We then showed her the rules. She suggested some changes which were carried out. And today, we are building 20,000 houses for the slum-dwellers in this region,'' he said. ''Instead of 350 square feet house, we are giving 470 square feet houses to the poor....The slum-dwellers, the poor are going to get their own house. And in this effort, Madhuri Misal has played a significant role,'' he added.

Fadnavis said in the Parvati assembly seat, flood-affected people were demanding the ownership rights for their houses. ''We have given ownership rights to 103 societies which has benefitted 35,000 people...Their 60 year old struggle has finally paid dividends, thanks to efforts of people's representative like Madhuri Misal,'' he said.

Fadnavis said it was the BJP Government which took implemented the Pune Metro project at a faster pace. ''I want to tell with pride that if there is a Metro project in the country which was completed in quick, it was the Pune Metro. Before we came to power, the UPA government had only made the announcement but was not ready to implement the project. After I took charge as the chief minister, I held a meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari was also present. We decided to take up the Pune Metro project in all earnest and even set up the Maha Metro company for quick implementation,'' he said.

Fadnavis said the multi-modal hub which is being set up in Swargate was the most advanced one in the country. ''It was Madhuri Misal who had suggested the integration of PMPML, MSRTC bus and Pune Metro train services by setting up of the multi-modal hub,'' he said, adding that approval to the Swargate-Katraj Metro plan was another big achievement of the Mahayuti Government.

Pointing out that how the Mahayuti Government works, Fadnavis said,''When I was in Pune recently, the local leaders suggested that we should also implement Khadakvasla to Kharadi Metro project. While sititng in car, I immediately called up the officials and asked them to prepare the DPR. And then within one week, the cabinet gave approval to the Khadakvasla to Kharadi project.''

Fadnavis said Pune's biggest problem is related to the traffic. ''PMPML has biggest the electric vehicle fleet. We are now going to implement ring road plan in such a way that Pune's traffic problem comes down drastically..We are going to spend Rs 20,000 crore on multi-modal connectivity. It will help us streamline Pune's traffic,'' he said.

Criticising MVA leader, Fadnavis said,''MVA leaders like Nana Patole and Sharad Pawar are saying that they will close down the Ladki Bahin Yojana and other schemes if they come to power. I want to tell them don't the eye financial assistance that we are giving to our sisters.''

BJP leaders Pankaja Munde, Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol and Sandeep Khardekar were among those present.