Pune: Hinjewadi-Shivaji Nagar Metro Line Faces 6-Month Delay
Pune: Hinjewadi-Shivaji Nagar Metro Line Faces 6-Month Delay
The much-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar Metro line will take six more months to complete. The project, initially set for March 2025, is now expected to be finished by October 2025.
The 23-km metro route, under the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), is being constructed on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Work on the project began in November 2021, but delays in station construction and permissions have pushed the timeline.
Currently, 79% of the metro work is complete, with all pillars erected. Out of 23 stations, 12 are ready, but critical work like staircases and construction at 11 stations is pending. Slow progress at Shivajinagar (RBI) and Aundh stations is causing significant delays. Challenges like interconnection work at University Chowk and high-tension power lines on roads have also hindered progress.
PMRDA revealed that delays in land acquisition, especially at Shivajinagar and Civil Court, led to setbacks of 7-8 months. These issues, along with slow work by the contractor, have resulted in an extension.
The project, built on elevated pillars 18-20 meters high, also includes crossings over the Pune-Bangalore Highway and the Mula River. The estimated cost is ₹8,313 crore.
The contractor faces penalties for failing to meet deadlines as per the concession agreement. However, details of the penalty amount have not been disclosed.
Metro trials will begin only after the remaining work is completed in six months, raising doubts about meeting the October deadline.
This route has 23 stations, including Megapolis Circle, Infosys Phase 2, Wakad Chowk, Balewadi Stadium, Baner, University, and Shivajinagar. IT professionals and citizens will have to wait longer to benefit from relief from traffic congestion.
