The operations of Line 3 till Shivajinagar will enable connectivity to the already operational Line 1 (PCMC to Swargate) and Line 2 (Vanaz to Ramwadi). (Photo by special arrangement)
Service on Pune’s highly anticipated Metro Line 3, running from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar, will start by June 15, an official said. It will initially cover the first 12 of the 23 stations from the Hinjewadi side. The remaining stations will become operational in October.
“Metro Line 3, from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar, was supposed to start by May 31, but the implementing agency has sought an extension to start operations from June 15. So the actual operations will be delayed a bit,” — said Abhijeet Chaudhari, Metropolitan Commissioner of Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).
The elevated metro line is 23.203 km long and will reduce travel time between Pune’s central business district and the IT hub in Hinjewadi, providing major relief to lakhs of commuters amid traffic congestion. It will also benefit the area’s residents, as large-scale residential development has taken place in Hinjewadi.
Chaudhari said the metro line would start operations in phases, with the first phase starting by June 15, covering 12 stations from the Hinjewadi side. “The trial run for the metro route from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar has been successful across the entire route,” he said.
Chaudhari said work on the 11 metro stations from the Shivajinagar side was ongoing. “The 11 stations will be ready by October, and then the metro service will be operational on the entire stretch,” he added.
The operations of Line 3 till Shivajinagar will enable connectivity to the already operational Line 1 (PCMC to Swargate) and Line 2 (Vanaz to Ramwadi), which are being extended on both sides.
Puneri Metro is the first public-private partnership-based metro project approved in the country. It is being developed by Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited, a special purpose vehicle created by a joint venture of the Tata group and Siemens.
Chaudhari said, “The company will later release the schedule as well as the fare structure for the route.”
Keolis, a French transportation company, will maintain and manage 22 trains, 23 stations, and the ticketing system on the line for 10 years.
Megapolis Society in Maan, Quadron Business Park, Dohler, Infosys Phase 2, Wipro Technologies Phase 2, Pall India, Shivaji Chowk, Courtyard by Marriott, Wakad Chowk, Balewadi Stadium, Orchid Hotel, Ramnagar.
High Street, Balewadi Phata, Baner Gaon, Baner, Krushi Anussandhan, YASHADA, Savitribai Phule Pune University, RBI, Agriculture College, Shivajinagar, District and Sessions Court.
