India, July 31 -- Pune's proposed high capacity mass transit route (HCMTR) has become the key factor shaping the design of the city's next phase of metro expansion. Civic officials have begun integrating the proposed 43.6-km HCMTR with upcoming metro corridors to avoid future redesigns, repeated road excavation and higher construction costs.

The exercise gathered pace after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis directed officials this week to fast-track HCMTR and complete the corridor by 2028. The route intersects or runs parallel to several existing and proposed metro corridors, making joint planning essential before construction begins.

Senior officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporati...