Mumbai, Oct. 29 -- Passenger services on Pune's 23-km Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 are scheduled to begin on November 3, following months of delays and uncertainty over the inauguration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the service virtually, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is expected to attend the event in person.
An official announcement is likely within the next two days, after the code of conduct for the legislative council elections is lifted. The launch date had remained uncertain after Modi deferred his planned Pune visit to the second half of next month.
Officials from the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and representatives of the project company reviewed the corridor's readiness and the arrangements required for the launch at a meeting on Monday. The discussions covered the operationalisation of the route and preparations for the proposed inauguration.
The elevated corridor has 23 stations, of which 17 are ready. The authority is working to complete construction at two additional stations, numbered 13 and 14, before passenger services begin.
The corridor connects the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjewadi with Shivajinagar, a major commercial and administrative centre in Pune. The 23-km route is being developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model and is intended to improve connectivity between the technology hub and the city centre.
The proposed opening follows repeated missed deadlines and delays in finalising the inauguration date. If the schedule is maintained, the service will become operational after the remaining launch preparations and station work are completed.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.