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Citing that more time was required to complete the work, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) will likely postpone the launch of the Metro Rail service from Maan village via Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar and the actual operations will start for the public in the next year.
After two metro routes, — Vanaz to Ramwadi and Pimpri Chinchwad to Swargate — developed by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (Maha-Metro), were completed, the focus shifted to the third route from Maan village via Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar, which was being developed by Pune IT City Metro Rail Ltd (PITCMRL) for the PMRDA. This third route was scheduled to become operational in April this year, but it was given an extension till September due to the work being incomplete.
The 24-km long elevated route will have 23 stations and provide direct connectivity from the city to Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjewadi.
“Around 85 per cent of the work has been completed and the minimum infrastructure required to start testing the Metro rail on this route will be ready by December-end. The go ahead to start metro services on this route will be done after it has been successfully tested and the safety system approved,” said a PMRDA officer.
He said that while the speed of work has been increased, civil work at Pune University junction will require more time. He said the work on the double-decker flyover from Pune University of Ganeshkhind to Agriculture college is underway, wherein the Metro will ply on the top deck while road traffic will be on the bottom deck.
Civic activist Vivek Velankar said it was incorrect for the administration to make citizens suffer over the delay in starting the
Last year, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had visited the construction site to review the ongoing Metro rail project. He had directed the PMRDA to speed up work, particularly the stretch from Shivajinagar to Aundh on Ganeshkhind Road.
The Metro service from Shivajinagar to Hinjewadi is one of the most anticipated developmental projects in the city, as thousands of citizens commute daily from the city to the IT park. The introduction of the Metro rail is expected to encourage citizens to reduce their reliance on private vehicles for daily commutes.
