With demand from elected and public representatives, the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MAHA-METRO) has sought approval of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to construct an additional Metro station at Balaji Nagar on the Swargate-Katraj underground route. In a proposal tabled in the civic standing committee, municipal commissioner Rajendra Bhosale said the Maha-Metro has sought approval for construction of a metro station at Balaji Nagar on Swargate-Katraj underground route. However, the PMC should give its nod on the condition that there is no additional cost to the civic body, it said. According to Maha-Metro, a joint venture of the Centre and state government, the PMC should give in-principal approval for additional stations on Swargate-Katraj Underground Extension Line. The PMC in 2021 had sanctioned Swargate-Katraj extension line with 5.463 km length and 3 underground stations with project completion cost at Rs 2,954.53 crore, which will be implemented by Maha-Metro. “Maha-Metro has received several requests from elected and public representatives of Pune for providing an additional underground station near Balaji Nagar which would increase ridership of this line and also serve residents of Balaji Nagar, Dhankawadi and Bibvewadi," said Shravan Hardikar, Managing Director of Maha-Metro. As per approved Detailed Project Report (DPR), there are three underground stations-Market Yard, Padmavati and Katraj between Swargate and Katraj. “The average inter-station distance for this extension corridor is approximately 1.9 km. To maintain the inter-station distance as per Metro standards, it is required to bring this distance to around 1 to 1.5 km. For this purpose, four underground stations have to be accommodated," he said. Looking at the ridership and developments happening in the vicinity, Hardikar said, "The fourth station at Balaji Nagar is fully justifiable. Maha-Metro has done the technical scrutiny, and it is considered feasible.” In a similar situation, in case of PCMC-Nigdi extension line, a fourth station has been introduced for which Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) general body has passed a resolution, he said. The foundation stone of the underground route from Swargate to Katraj was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few weeks ago. The first phase of Metro rail from PCMC to Swargate and Vanaz to Ramwadi has been made operational in phases. The proposal for construction of a route from Khadakwasla to Kharadi via Hadapsar and extension of routes from Nal Stop to Manikbaug via Warje and Vanaz to Chandni Chowk is pending with the state government.
