Third metro line of Pune operations to start in March 2026, Real Estate News, ET RealEstate

May 11, 2025 Clicktoprints

PUNE: The 23km third Metro line connecting the city to the Hinjewadi IT hub will start operations only in March 2026.

“The concessionaire has put up the proposal for the deadline extension. It has to be tabled before the executive committee comprising the additional chief finance secretary for approval,” a senior official of the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) told TOI on Saturday.

After two Metro routes — Vanaz to Ramwadi and Pimpri Chinchwad to Swargate — developed by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) were completed, the focus shifted to the third line from Maan village to Shivajinagar via Hinjewadi. Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL) is developing it for the PMRDA. Officials said more than 85% work of the third Metro line was done, but some major tasks of the project were yet to be completed.

“There was a delay in getting the barricading permission on Ganeshkhind Road for carrying out the work. This being the main arterial road for VIP movement and even commuters, work could not be carried out at a stretch. Besides the barricading permission, utility shifting work was delayed,” said another official of the PMRDA.

The third Metro line was initially scheduled to open in March this year. It was first postponed to September, then to December this year and now to March 2026. The Metro trial runs scheduled for September would now be carried out early next year.

The 23-km-long elevated Metro route will have 23 stations. It will provide direct connectivity from the city to Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park. “The entire 23km stretch would be opened in one go,” said the PMRDA official.

Over 80% work of the double-deck integrated flyover from University Chowk to E-square Junction for the Metro line has been done. The ramps for the integrated flyover towards Aundh should open to the public by June 1, another official said.

Residents expressed their frustration over the traffic jam on Ganeshkhind Road because of the third Metro line work. Meera K, a regular commuter, said, “It is a pain to travel along that road, especially in late evening hours.”

MLA Siddharth Shirole said he would seek a meeting with all stakeholders under the chief minister and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar to speed up the third Metro line’s work. “We have received several complaints from commuters regarding the delay. It is high time that there is focus on this infrastructure project,” he said.

Last year, Ajit Pawar had visited the construction site and directed the PMRDA to speed up work, particularly the stretch from Shivajinagar to Aundh on Ganeshkhind Road.