Pune Metro Gears Up for 6-Coach Trains as Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Line Nears Launch; Daily Ridership May Hit 3 Lakh
Pune Metro Line 3: Hinjawadi–Balewadi Stretch Likely To Open For Passengers Next Week
Metro authorities expect daily passenger numbers to touch nearly 3 lakh after the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar route becomes operational.
Pune Metro is planning to introduce bigger six-coach trains on its existing routes as passenger numbers are expected to rise sharply after the launch of the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro corridor.
At present, Metro services on the PCMC-Swargate and Vanaz-Ramwadi routes operate with three-coach trains. However, officials believe daily ridership could increase by nearly 50 per cent once the 23-km Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar line starts operations in the coming months.
The new corridor will connect the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjewadi with the city centre and will also provide interchange connectivity with the current Metro network.
According to Pune Metro officials, the average daily ridership on the two operational corridors reached around 1.87 lakh passengers in March 2026. Maha-Metro Managing Director Shravan Hardikar said the number is expected to increase to nearly 2.75 lakh to 3 lakh commuters daily after the new line opens.
“To manage the growing passenger load, Pune Metro will begin the process of procuring six-coach trains,” Hardikar said. He added that the long-term goal is to prepare the system for around six lakh daily passengers.
Currently, Pune Metro operates 18 trains on the Vanaz-Ramwadi corridor and 16 trains on the PCMC-Swargate route. Officials said more trains will be added in the future to meet increasing demand.
Maha-Metro is also planning to upgrade depot facilities at Vanaz and Range Hill.
Meanwhile, work is progressing on several Metro extension routes including PCMC-Nigdi, Swargate-Katraj, Vanaz-Chandni Chowk and Ramwadi-Wagholi. Construction work on the proposed Line 4 corridor connecting Khadakwasla and Kharadi via Swargate and Hadapsar is also expected to begin soon.
