New link between IT hub and central Pune
Pune is set to add a major east-west public transport link on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to virtually inaugurate Metro Line 3, also known as the Pink Line. The 23-km corridor will connect Maan and the District Court Metro station, offering a direct rail connection between the Hinjewadi information technology hub and Shivajinagar.
The inauguration will be conducted through video conferencing at 12.30 pm on November 3. A ground-level programme has been scheduled earlier at 10.30 am at the badminton court in the Balewadi sports complex. Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, besides local MPs, MLAs, the Pune Mayor and other dignitaries, are expected to attend the event.
Built at a cost of more than ₹8,300 crore, Line 3 is aimed at providing an alternative to road travel for commuters moving between the city’s established central areas and Hinjewadi, one of Pune’s key employment centres. The corridor is expected to be particularly significant for information technology employees and other daily passengers who currently depend heavily on road-based transport for this journey.
“23 km connecting Hinjewadi’s IT hub with Shivajinagar. Operated by women. Almost a third of the electricity needs planned from solar energy.”
Modi highlighted these features in a post on X ahead of the inauguration, describing the project as an infrastructure enhancement intended to improve Pune’s ease of living. The new corridor is also planned to connect with the existing Metro network, enabling passengers to reach other parts of the city through interchange stations.
Phase-II expansion to cover additional corridors
Alongside the Pink Line inauguration, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for four new corridors under Pune Metro’s Phase-II. The combined investment for the Phase-II works is around ₹21,800 crore, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. The projects are intended to extend the reach of the existing network beyond its current corridors and improve connections across Pune’s expanding urban areas.
| Project | Key details | Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Line 3 | 23 km from Maan to District Court, through the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar link | Over ₹8,300 crore |
| Line 2 extensions | 12 km and 13 stations, covering Vanaz-Chandni Chowk and Ramwadi-Vitthalwadi | Over ₹3,600 crore |
| Phase-II package | Four proposed metro corridors | About ₹21,800 crore |
The planned extension of the existing Line 2 will cover both western and eastern stretches. The western section will extend from Vanaz to Chandni Chowk, while the eastern section will run from Ramwadi towards Vitthalwadi in Wagholi. Together, the extensions will cover 12 km and include 13 stations, according to MahaMetro Managing Director Shravan Hardikar.
Planned network across major city routes
Another proposed corridor, Line 4, is planned to strengthen east-west connectivity across several important parts of Pune. The approximately 31-km route will originate at Khadakwasla and pass through Sinhagad Road, Swargate, Shankarshet Road, Hadapsar and Magarpatta Road. The details of the remaining stretch were not included in the project information available ahead of the foundation stone ceremony.
For commuters, the immediate significance of the November 3 programme lies in the opening of a dedicated public transport option between two high-demand locations: Hinjewadi, where large numbers of technology and business establishments are based, and Shivajinagar, a major central-city destination. The network expansion will also place greater emphasis on interchange-based travel, allowing passengers to combine the new corridor with existing Metro services rather than relying entirely on road transport.
- Line 3: 23-km Pink Line between Maan and District Court.
- Operations: The corridor is planned to be operated by women, with nearly one-third of its electricity needs planned from solar power.
- Phase-II: Four new corridors with an overall investment of around ₹21,800 crore.
