Maha Metro to appoint DPR Consultant for Pune's Shivajinagar-Kondhwa Metro Line

Pune, India (Metro Rail Today): Pune’s urban mobility map is set to expand further as MahaMetro gears up to finalise the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the much-anticipated Shivajinagar-Kondhwa Metro line, including a vital spur to the NIBM area. The 20-km corridor, intended to serve rapidly developing suburbs like Kondhwa, NIBM, and Yewalewadi, is expected to bring much-needed relief to traffic congestion and boost last-mile connectivity in southern Pune.

The proposed line is envisioned as an extension of the ongoing PMRDA Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro corridor (PMR-3), which is currently under execution by Tata under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Officials at MahaMetro confirmed on Friday that tenders for appointing a DPR consultant have been received and that the agency will be appointed shortly. Once selected, the DPR preparation is expected to be completed within three months, following which it will be submitted to the state government, and then to the Central Government for final approval.

After the first round of scrutiny, two firms, Aarvee Engineering Consultants Ltd. and RITES Ltd., have cleared the technical stage.

Meanwhile, Pune Metro is gearing up to introduce a driverless train service. This will start with the proposed route from Khadakwasla to Kharadi.

According to Vinod Agarwal, Director, Systems and Operations, Maha-Metro, as per the approved Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Pune Metro Line-4, the metro lines are meant to be operated in Attended Train Operation (ATO) mode, wherein the train operator shall be present inside each train and supervise the working of the ATO-based Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC).

The corridor is being proposed at a time when traffic pressure in the Kondhwa-Yewalewadi belt has reached unsustainable levels due to rapid real estate growth and inadequate public transport options. MLC Yogesh Tilekar, who raised the matter during the recently concluded monsoon session of the state legislature, described the project as "essential for this growing area" and called for fast-tracking it through the PPP model to expedite execution.

“While Metro connectivity has been approved up to Hadapsar, the Kondhwa-NIBM stretch continues to be excluded from the master plan,” Tilekar said, adding that he would be following up with the divisional commissioner (PUMTA head) and MahaMetro officials next week to ensure quick progress.

From an industry perspective, Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO of Urban Infra Group, emphasized the strategic value of the extension:

“The Shivajinagar-Kondhwa corridor is a critical addition to Pune’s transit landscape. As cities expand beyond traditional cores, it is imperative to ensure connectivity to fast-growing neighborhoods like NIBM and Yewalewadi. This proposal reflects the vision of a more inclusive and sustainable metro network.”

MahaMetro officials also pointed out that the state government last year approved a new Metro line connecting Khadakwasla-Hadapsar-Swargate-Kharadi, linking Pune’s western, southern, and eastern regions. Additionally, there is a proposal to extend the Hadapsar route further to Saswad as part of Line-4, which would enhance access to the upcoming Purandar Airport, further cementing the city’s future as a regional mobility hub.

Urban planning experts have welcomed the move, noting that early-stage DPR preparation is key to understanding existing traffic patterns, population density, and feasibility—all critical for timely funding approvals and integration into the broader Pune Metro Phase II plans.

With appointment of the DPR consultant imminent and political push for fast-tracking execution, the Shivajinagar-Kondhwa Metro line is poised to become a pivotal project in the city's next phase of transit-oriented development.