Maha Metro Gets Green Signal For PCMC-Nigdi Extension
Maha Metro Gets Green Signal For PCMC-Nigdi Extension
The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) has received the necessary permissions from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and traffic police to commence groundwork on the PCMC-Nigdi extension. This development marks a significant milestone in the expansion of the Metro network in the region.
The PCMC-Nigdi extension is the first major extension of the Metro project, following the recent commencement of two corridors – Vanaz to Ramwadi and PCMC to Swargate. The extension will cover a distance of 4.5 km and will include stations at Chinchwad, Akurdi, Nigdi, and Bhakti-Shakti Chowk.
According to Maha Metro officials, the groundwork for the extension started in July, and the corporation has received the go-ahead for work at most locations. The maximum portion of the viaduct is being constructed on the old Mumbai-Pune highway, and the plan is to finish the viaduct work on priority.
Maha Metro has also identified locations for the four stations and has initiated the process to appoint an agency for their construction. Discussions with PCMC and the state government for allotment of land required for the entry-exit points of the stations are underway.
The extension of the Metro to Bhakti Shakti Chowk will benefit people working in the industrial areas of Chinchwad, Akurdi, and Nigdi. Students traveling to educational institutes in these areas from Pune will also be able to avail of the Metro services.
However, regular Metro commuters have expressed disappointment that the extension work was not part of the Swargate-PCMC corridor. Manoj Shinde, a frequent traveler to Nigdi from Pune, said, “Commuters will have to wait at least three more years for Metro services beyond Pimpri.”
The PCMC-Nigdi extension is expected to be completed in the next two-and-a-half to three years.
