Pune Metro's Shivajinagar-Hinjewadi Corridor to Open in Two Phases This Year
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Sunday that the 23-km elevated Metro corridor connecting Shivajinagar and Hinjewadi will be inaugurated in two distinct phases. The first 11-km stretch of the route is scheduled to open in May this year, while the remaining 12-km section will become operational in July, marking a significant milestone for Pune's public transportation network.
Project Delays and Revised Deadlines
This project, which is the first Metro corridor in India to be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model with the Tata group-led Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL), has faced multiple delays. Originally slated for completion by March 2025, the deadline was extended to September 2025, then to December 2025, and subsequently to March 2026. This represents the fourth extension of the project's completion date since construction began in 2021, with the first Metro pillar erected in April 2022.
Officials from the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) revealed that approximately 94% of the project work has been completed, and trial runs are currently being conducted on the route. However, several critical works, particularly those related to Metro stations, remain pending. The project has been delayed further as the concessionaire has yet to submit the final letter confirming readiness to commence operations.
Current Status and Station Progress
Sources within PMRDA informed that work has been completed on 13 of the 23 Metro stations along the line. Construction and finishing work at the remaining 10 stations is still underway, contributing to the phased inauguration approach. This strategic decision allows for partial operations to begin while finalizing the remaining infrastructure.
Expected Impact on Traffic and Future Expansion
The Shivajinagar–Hinjewadi Metro corridor is anticipated to significantly alleviate traffic congestion on this busy route. It is expected that a substantial number of IT professionals working in the Hinjewadi IT Park will transition to using the Metro, thereby reducing vehicular traffic and improving overall transportation efficiency in the region.
Chief Minister Fadnavis also highlighted the broader Metro expansion plans for Pune. Once this project is completed, the Pune region will have approximately 56km of operational Metro lines. Work on an additional 55km Metro network is currently underway, with another 80km proposed for future development. When all these projects are finalized, areas under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), and PMRDA will boast a nearly 200km Metro network, transforming urban mobility in the region.
The phased inauguration represents a pragmatic approach to bringing this critical infrastructure project to fruition, despite the challenges and delays encountered during its implementation.
