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BJP contender for Pune mayor’s post seeks realignment of Metro route on Sinhagad Road

BJP corporator Manjusha Nagpure flagged the long-term traffic chaos on Sinhagad Road and suggested the Metro route from Khadakwasla to Kharadi be moved along the canal or Mutha river.

3 min readPuneJan 30, 2026 05:24 PM IST

Pune Metro has received Centre’s approval to construct an elevated route from Khadakwasla to Kharadi via Swargate and Hadapsar. (Express Photo)

BJP corporator Manjusha Nagpure, who has been re-elected to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for the third consecutive term and is considered a key contender for the mayor’s post, has requested the civic administration to explore the possibility of realigning the Metro route from Khadakwasla to Kharadi along the canal or Mutha river, instead of following the existing plan to build an elevated route on already congested Sinhagad Road.

“I had submitted a written communication to Pune Metro Rail and the PMC, requesting them to explore the possibility of changing the alignment of the Metro route passing through Sinhagad Road. While discussions were held and the administration was asked to examine the feasibility of a realignment, no official response has been received yet,” Nagpure said, adding that she has also raised the issue with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who assured her it would be taken up for discussion.

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Dinkar Gojare, PMC project department in charge, said that her letter will be forwarded to the state government.

Pune Metro has received Centre’s approval to construct an elevated route from Khadakwasla to Kharadi via Swargate and Hadapsar. The alignment will run through the middle of the existing road and pass above the recently built flyover on Sinhagad Road. The approved route spans 31.636 km with 28 elevated stations. Lines 4 and 4A will connect IT hubs, commercial zones, educational institutions, and residential clusters across Pune. The project will be completed within five years at an estimated cost of Rs 9,857.85 crore.

“Sinhagad Road is the most congested road in Pune city. It is the main road providing access to a large population from the area commuting to the central part of the city. A flyover was recently built to tackle the traffic, for which citizens had to suffer a lot for more than two years during its construction,” said Nagpure, who was elected from the Suncity-Manikbaug electoral ward, which is in the area of the Sinhagad Road ward office. Metro Line 4 from Khadakwasla to Kharadi is set to be constructed through the middle of Sinhagad Road.

The BJP corporator said she wants detailed information on the planned Metro Line 4 so that it can be studied and discussed. The construction of an elevated Metro line on the existing Sinhagad Road above the flyover will have an adverse impact on the residents and cause inconvenience to them, she added.

Nagpure appealed to the administration to explore the possibility of developing a Metro route alongside the canal, which is going to be closed soon, or alongside the Mutha river as both are parallel to Sinhagad Road. “…will enable faster implementation without disturbing the traffic flow of the main Sinhagad Road. Also, the land acquisition and construction work can be done faster than that on already busy Sinhagad Road,” she explained.

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Nagpure said there is a dire need for a Metro rail facility in the Sinhagad Road ward office area to ease residents’ daily suffering from traffic jams. She added that proper planning and faster execution would bring relief to citizens.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Pune. With over 22 years of experience in the industry, he is a highly specialized journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of urban infrastructure, governance, and sustainability. Professional Background Role: As Assistant Editor, he plays a key role in the editorial direction of the Pune bureau, specializing in urban policy and its direct impact on citizens. Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a PG Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He also studied at the prestigious Fergusson College. Impactful Reporting: He is credited with research-based articles on conservancy staff (waste workers) that influenced national policy for better working conditions. He is also known for exposing the contrast between high-end infrastructure (like helipads for leaders) and the lack of basic amenities like schools in their home districts. Personal Interests: An avid trekker and sports enthusiast, his personal interest in the outdoors often informs his reporting on environmental protection and sustainable development. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) His reporting in late 2025 has been dominated by the upcoming January 2026 Civic Polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the city's infrastructure boom: 1. Political Analysis (Civic Elections 2026) "Not friendly but a bitter fight lies ahead between BJP and NCP for PMC, PCMC" (Dec 22, 2025): A detailed look at the intense rivalry between the Mahayuti partners as they prepare for the January 15 municipal elections. "Pune civic polls: Big blow to NCP, NCP(SP) as leaders switch to BJP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on high-profile poaching and party-hopping ahead of the elections. "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): Analyzing the results of the local self-government body elections as a precursor to the main civic polls. 2. Infrastructure & Urban Development "Looking Ahead at 2026: Pune to see inauguration of much-awaited Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar metro route" (Dec 22, 2025): An "outlook" piece on the critical Metro Line 3 project expected to finish by March 2026. "Building Pune: PMC to construct double-decker bridge over Mula-Mutha River" (Dec 18, 2025): Detailing a major project aimed at easing traffic between Hadapsar and Kharadi. "Condition of highway from Pune to Kolhapur to improve in a year: Gadkari" (Dec 4, 2025): Reporting on the Union Minister’s assurances regarding one of the state's most critical transport corridors. 3. Civic Governance & Environment "Install sensors, LED indicators at construction sites within 15 days: PMC to builders" (Dec 16, 2025): A follow-up to the "Breathless Pune" series, reporting on new mandates for builders to monitor air quality in real-time. "Errors in electoral rolls: PMC corrects data of 92,466 voters" (Dec 16, 2025): Tracking the administrative efforts to clean up the voter lists before the 2026 elections. Signature Style Ajay Jadhav is known for accountability journalism. His work often bridges the gap between high-level policy and the "ground zero" reality of Pune's residents. He is particularly focused on Sustainable Development, ensuring that as Pune grows into a "Bharat Mandapam" style destination (referring to his report on the Lohegaon project), its environmental and social safeguards remain intact. X (Twitter): @ajay_khape ... Read More

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