Pune Metro Line 3 set to launch First 12-km Section on 15 July 2026

Pune, India (Metro Rail Today): Commuters travelling to Pune’s bustling IT hub in Hinjawadi are set to receive a major mobility boost as the first phase of Pune Metro Line 3 (Hinjawadi–Shivajinagar Metro) is scheduled to commence operations from July 15, 2026. The announcement was made by Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) Commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari, following directions issued by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during a recent high-level infrastructure review meeting.

The initial operational section will cover a 12-km stretch between Maan and Ramnagar, including 12 stations, while the remaining section of the corridor comprising 11 additional stations is expected to become operational within the next one-and-a-half to two months.

“The Chief Minister has instructed us to start Metro services from July 15. Accordingly, we are gearing up to launch the first phase of the project by then,” PMRDA Commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari said.

The launch, however, remains subject to final statutory approvals. The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has already conducted a preliminary inspection of the corridor, and the final inspection is expected between June 15 and June 20.

“If no major issues are identified during the inspection, we should be in a position to start operations from July 15,” Chaudhari added.

Major Relief for Hinjawadi IT Corridor

The 23.2-km fully elevated Metro Line 3 will connect Hinjawadi IT Park, one of India’s largest technology hubs, with Shivajinagar, significantly reducing travel times and easing chronic traffic congestion along the heavily congested corridor.

Once operational, the metro line is expected to benefit lakhs of daily commuters travelling between Pune city and the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, where severe traffic bottlenecks are a regular occurrence during peak hours.

The July 15 target follows a review conducted during the Chief Minister’s “War Room” meeting held at Mumbai’s Sahyadri Guest House, where progress on 20 major infrastructure projects across Maharashtra was assessed.

While PMRDA had earlier been directed to complete the first phase by June 30, some technical and ground-level works required additional time. During the review, officials assured the Chief Minister that services would commence by mid-July.

India’s First Metro Project Under PPP Model

Pune Metro Line 3 holds the distinction of being India’s first Metro project developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The project is being implemented through a consortium led by Tata Realty and Infrastructure Limited (TRIL) and Siemens Project Ventures, with a total investment of approximately ₹8,313 crore.

The corridor features 23 stations and has been designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing Pune Metro network developed by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro).

Recognising the importance of seamless connectivity, Chief Minister Fadnavis has also directed officials to implement an integrated ticketing system that will allow passengers to travel across both Metro networks using a unified ticketing platform.

Full Corridor Nearing Completion

According to PMRDA officials, construction of the remaining stations is progressing rapidly and work will continue on a war footing after the commissioning of the first phase.

Once fully operational, Metro Line 3 will create a direct high-capacity transit link between Pune’s central business district and its expanding western technology corridor, supporting economic growth while promoting sustainable urban mobility.

The Chief Minister also issued a strong message on infrastructure delivery timelines, emphasizing the need for faster project execution.

“Under no circumstances should infrastructure projects take more than three to three-and-a-half years to complete. Delays cause huge financial losses to the country and the state. Slackness in work will not be tolerated,” Fadnavis said during the review meeting.

The meeting also reviewed several other strategic infrastructure initiatives, including the Pune Ring Road, Mula-Mutha River Rejuvenation Project, and the Pimpri-Chinchwad–Nigdi Metro extension, with instructions issued to accelerate implementation.

Commenting on the development, Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO, Urban Infra Group, said:

“The commencement of Pune Metro Line 3 marks a transformative milestone for the city’s urban mobility landscape. By connecting the Hinjawadi IT hub with the city centre, the corridor will significantly reduce travel times, improve productivity and encourage a shift towards sustainable public transport. The successful implementation of India’s first PPP-based metro project also demonstrates the growing potential of public-private collaboration in delivering world-class transit infrastructure.”

With final safety approvals expected shortly, Pune is now preparing to welcome another major addition to its rapidly expanding metro network, bringing faster, more reliable and environmentally sustainable transportation closer to reality for millions of commuters.