12 Metro stations on Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar route likely to open by June-end

Pune: Commuters awaiting the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro (Line 3) can expect partial relief by June-end, with 12 stations likely to open in the first phase, contingent on mandatory safety clearances, PMRDA officials told TOI after attending a meeting in Mumbai on Thursday.The officials indicated that the overall project was now 95.2% complete. "The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) is expected to inspect the corridor later this month. A final decision on launching operations will be taken based on this inspection. Having said that, it is likely that services on the first phase could begin by June-end, provided all approvals are secured," a senior official of the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) said.The official said the agency had also sought an extension for starting operations, and exact timelines would depend on CMRS clearance.The officials said the initial rollout would be limited, covering 12 stations from Maan to Balewadi on the Hinjewadi side. "Some stations may operate with restricted access, such as single staircases, until remaining works are completed. A few stations are still under construction, and full readiness of this section may take another three to four months," the official said.The 23.23-km elevated corridor is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Pune's central business district and the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjewadi. It will also benefit residents in rapidly developing residential areas along the route.Trial runs across the entire stretch, from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar, had already been successfully completed, PMRDA commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari had told TOI last month. Work on the remaining 11 stations closer to Shivajinagar was, however, still under way. The officials expected these stations to be ready by Oct, enabling operations across the full corridor. They attributed delays to technical issues at about four stations in Baner and Shivajinagar areas.Once fully operational, Line 3 will integrate with Pune Metro's existing network — Line 1 (PCMC to Swargate) and Line 2 (Vanaz to Ramwadi), both currently functional and being expanded.While the partial launch will benefit commuters in areas like Balewadi, many, especially IT professionals, said the full benefit would only be realised once the Shivajinagar connection was operational. "It has been a long wait. We hope the remaining stations are completed soon so the entire stretch can open," Tanya Thomas, an architect, said.Pune Metro is the country's first public-private partnership-based Metro project approved by Centre. The project is being developed by Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited, a special purpose vehicle formed through a joint venture between the Tata Group and Siemens.