Six firms bid for construction of Swargate–Katraj Underground Extension of Pune Metro Phase 2

Pune, India (Metro Rail Today): The underground extension of Pune Metro's Purple Line took a significant step forward as six major infrastructure firms, including one consortium, submitted bids for the civil construction contract of the 5.46 km Swargate–Katraj corridor. Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (Maha-Metro) opened the technical bids on Wednesday under the tender package P1A-UGC(R).

The proposed extension falls under Phase 1A of Pune Metro and will consist of twin tunnels and five underground stations located at Market Yard (Gultekdi), Bibwewadi, Padmawati, Balaji Nagar, and Katraj. The route will run along the city's critical north-south corridor and aims to significantly decongest Pune’s road network.

Maha-Metro had initially invited bids in October 2024 with only three stations—Market Yard, Padmawati, and Katraj—in scope. After consultations with stakeholders, including public and government bodies, the route was revised to include two more stations at Bibwewadi and Balaji Nagar. This change pushed the estimated cost from Rs. 2954.53 crore to Rs. 3637 crore, while retaining the original construction timeline of 42 months. The central government gave its nod to the project in August 2024.

The firms competing for this vital project include Afcons Infrastructure, HCC–KPIL Joint Venture, ITD Cementation, J Kumar Infraprojects, Larsen & Toubro, and Tata Projects Ltd. These bids will now undergo a technical evaluation process, which may take a few months. Only after this stage will Maha-Metro open the financial bids to determine the lowest bidder and most likely contractor for the project.

The new Swargate–Katraj section will seamlessly extend the existing 3.3 km District Court–Swargate underground stretch, which was completed by the Tata Projects – Gulermak JV and inaugurated by the Prime Minister in September 2024.

Maha-Metro’s scope for this contract includes design and construction of five underground stations and all associated twin-tunnel work, with the contractor required to deploy a minimum of four tunnel boring machines (TBMs). Given the preparatory processes still underway, construction activity is not expected to commence before Q2 2026, and tunneling work will likely begin by Q2 2027.

Once operational, the Swargate–Katraj metro extension will significantly enhance intra-city mobility and offer commuters a reliable, high-capacity alternative to Pune’s congested road corridors.