Pune: Shivajinagar-Hinjewadi Metro Likely Delayed to 2026 Due to Pending Flyover, Land Handover, and Trials
Pune: Shivajinagar-Hinjewadi Metro Likely Delayed to 2026 Due to Pending Flyover, Land Handover, and Trials
Pune, April 11: The eagerly awaited Pune Metro Line 3, connecting Shivajinagar to Hinjewadi, is now unlikely to become operational before 2026, marking yet another delay in the city’s key infrastructure project.
The 23-kilometer elevated corridor, being executed by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis, was initially expected to be completed by 2024. This deadline was later extended to September 2025. However, officials have now indicated that full operations may not begin before early 2026.
As of now, nearly 83% to 85% of the construction work has been completed. However, major pending works especially the integrated flyover at University Chowk and associated ramps and deck slabs are expected to take several more months. The concessionaire has requested time until December 2025 to complete the remaining civil works.
Trial runs of the metro trains, a mandatory phase before commencing commercial operations, can only begin after the completion of the key structural components. These trials typically require a period of two to two-and-a-half months, further pushing the launch date into 2026.
The project has also faced several hurdles, including delays in land acquisition, shifting of utilities, and obtaining necessary permissions. The final land parcel, located at Raj Bhavan, was handed over only recently, while some utility relocations are still underway.
The extended delay has drawn criticism from commuters and residents who are facing daily inconvenience due to traffic congestion and ongoing construction activity along the route. Civic groups have raised concerns over the lack of timely execution and its impact on public life.
Despite the setbacks, the PMRDA remains optimistic that the project, once completed, will play a transformative role in improving connectivity between Pune’s central business districts and the IT hub of Hinjewadi, reducing traffic and easing commuter woes.
