News Brief
Pune’s Metro Line 3 Faces Further Delay; Operations Now Unlikely Before 2026
The Pune Metro (Wikipedia)
Pune’s much-anticipated Metro Line 3, connecting Shivajinagar and Hinjewadi, is now unlikely to commence operations before 2026, with trial runs deferred until at least December 2025, reported Times of India.
The project, overseen by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), has already overshot its earlier deadline of September 2025.
The concessionaire executing the project has requested a deadline extension to December 2025, ToI reported citing senior officials from PMRDA.
“At present, 83 to 85 per cent of work has been completed. The integrated flyover at University Chowk was expected to be completed by April-May,” a senior official was quoted as saying by ToI.
Officials also pointed out that the last land parcel at Raj Bhavan had only recently been handed over, with utility shifting still pending in some areas.
Trial runs for the metro coaches can only commence after the flyover’s completion, officials added.
The 23 km elevated corridor with 23 planned stations, 12 of which remain under construction is being implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) model at a projected cost of Rs 8,313 crore.
One of the major component of the project is the integrated flyover between University Chowk and E-Square junction, is still under construction with ramps being built on one side.
“Construction of ramps and deck slabs were pending at one end. The remaining was being executed,” the official said.
Despite multiple reviews by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in early 2024, progress has remained sluggish due to persistent traffic congestion along the busy route.
