Pune Metro Renames Three Stations After Citizen Campaign; Mandai Now Honours Mahatma Phule
Pune Metro Renames Three Stations After Citizen Campaign; Mandai Now Honours Mahatma Phule
Pune, December 22, 2025: Responding to sustained public appeals and representations from social organisations, Pune Metro has officially renamed three of its stations. Mandai station will now be known as Mahatma Phule Mandai, Nalstop has been renamed SNDT College Metro Station , and Ideal Colony station will henceforth be called Paud Phata.
Metro authorities confirmed that the process of updating signage and nameboards at the affected stations is underway and will be completed in the coming days. The decision follows months of demands from elected representatives and community groups seeking names that better reflect the historical, educational and geographical identity of the areas.
There was particularly strong support for renaming the Mandai station to honour social reformer Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, as the station is located in the historic Phule Mandai precinct. The Mali Mahasangh had formally submitted a memorandum to the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MahaMetro) pressing for the change and had also warned of protests if the demand was ignored. Following the official approval, members of the organisation marked the decision with celebrations on Sunday.
Changes have also been made along the Vanaz–Ramwadi metro corridor. The Nalstop station has been renamed SNDT, acknowledging its proximity to SNDT Women’s University, a prominent educational institution in the area. Similarly, Ideal Colony station has been rechristened Paud Phata, a name more closely associated with the local landmark and commonly used by commuters.
MahaMetro stated that the revised station names have received clearance from the central government, making the changes final and binding.
Separately, Pune Metro officials also highlighted progress on integrated ticketing. Soon, commuters will be able to use a single smart card for Pune Metro services, the upcoming Hinjawadi–Shivajinagar Metro line, and PMPML buses. The proposed ‘One Pune Card’ aims to simplify travel across public transport systems and is currently under development. Once launched, it is expected to significantly improve convenience for daily passengers across the city.
