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Cabinet nod for Kharadi to Khadakwasla, Nal Stop to Manikbaug metro lines for Pune

Pune Metro will implement driverless or unattended train operation (UTO) in greenfield metro lines of Pune Metro rail projects.

4 min readPuneUpdated: Nov 26, 2025 08:30 PM IST

Metro has already begun planning to develop the routes in Phase 2 by undertaking the design of 14 of the proposed 22 elevated stations on the Khadakwasla to Kharadi route. (Source: Express Archives)

In a major push to improve the environment-friendly public transport system in Pune by Metro rail network to 100 kms, the Union government on Wednesday approved the construction of the Line 4 (Kharadi-Hadapsar-Swargate-Khadakwasla) and Line 4A (Nal Stop-Warje-Manik Baug) of the Pune Metro Rail Project. The expansion work will come under Phase two of Pune Metro and is the second major project to be approved under this phase.

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 East, South, and West Pune. The project will be completed within five years at an estimated cost of Rs 9,857.85 crore, to be jointly funded by the union Government, state Government and external multilateral funding agencies. “The expansion of Pune metro was necessary and I had personally got it pushed for which a meeting with the Union Urban Affairs Minister was held. I thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving the approval for the new mega metro route for Pune,” said Union Minister and city MP Murlidhar Mohol.

These lines are a vital part of Pune’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) and will seamlessly integrate with operational and sanctioned corridors at Kharadi Bypass and Nal Stop and Swargate. They will also provide an interchange at Hadapsar Railway Station and connect with future corridors towards Loni Kalbhor and Saswad Road, ensuring smooth multimodal connectivity across metro, rail, and bus networks, he said that the feeder bus service for Pune metro rail is also being given a push for which the union government has sanctioned purchase of 1,000 electrict buses.

From Kharadi IT Park to Khadakwasla’s scenic tourist belt, and from Hadapsar’s industrial hub to Warje’s residential clusters, Lines 4 and 4A will knit together diverse neighbourhoods. Traversing Solapur Road, Magarpatta Road, Sinhagad Road, Karve Road, and the Mumbai–Bengaluru Highway, the project will ease congestion on Pune’s busiest routes while improving safety and promoting green, sustainable mobility, said Mohol.

According to projections, the daily ridership on Line 4 and 4A combined is expected to be 4.09 lakh in 2028, rising to nearly 7 lakh in 2038, 9.63 lakh in 2048, and over 11.7 lakh in 2058. Of this, the Kharadi–Khadakwasla corridor will account for 3.23 lakh passengers in 2028, growing to 9.33 lakh by 2058, while the Nal Stop–Warje–Manik Baug spur line will rise from 85,555 to 2.41 lakh passengers over the same period. These projections highlight the significant growth in ridership expected on Line 4 and 4A over the coming decades
Anticipating the union government’s approval, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), an Environmental Management Plan (EMP), and studies for resettlement and rehabilitation had already been started for Lines 4 and 4A.

“The approval of the Kharadi to Khadakwasla and Nal Stop to Manikbaug lines will expand the metro network to cover new area and establish connectivity to other parts of the city through metro rail service. This will help in reducing suffering due to traffic jams in the city for citizens with a comfortable and faster commutation,” said Shravan Hardika, managing director of Maha-Metro, which is implementing the Pune metro project.

The Pune metro would will start the tender process so that the actual work on the construction can be started in the next few months, said Hardikar.

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Pune Metro has completed Phase 1 of the project, which includes Line 1 from PCMC to Swargate and Line 2 from Vanaz to Ramwadi. The extension of both lines is still in progress, covering the sections from PCMC to Nigdi, Swargate to Katraj, Vanaz to Chandni Chowk, and Ramwadi to Wagholi. Pune Metro has already begun planning to develop the routes in Phase 2 by undertaking the design of 14 of the proposed 22 elevated stations on the Khadakwasla to Kharadi route.

In October 2024, the state government approved the detailed project report (DPR) to implement Phase 2. It includes two routes: a 25.8-km route from Khadakwasla to Kharadi via Swargate and Hadapsar, with 22 stations, costing Rs 8,131 crore; and a 6-km route from Nal Stop to Manik Baug via Warje, with six stations, costing Rs 1,765 crore.

Pune Metro will implement driverless or unattended train operation (UTO) in greenfield metro lines of Pune Metro rail projects.

Meanwhile, Line 3 from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar is all set to be operational by the end of March next year.

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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