| Work Detail |
The completion of Pune’s third Metro line, connecting Hinjawadi to Shivajinagar, is now expected to be delayed until September 2025, as the project’s concessionaire has requested an extension from the previously set target of March 2025. The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) confirmed this timeline revision, citing delays in key project components.
Officials stated that the integrated flyover segment, stretching from University Chowk to E-Square Junction, which was initially expected to be completed by December 2024, is now projected to be finished by March 2025. The 23-km corridor overall has reached 74% completion, while the flyover component stands at 65%. Key construction tasks, such as the ramp and deck slabs, remain unfinished, and necessary permissions for certain stretches are still pending. As a result, the crucial 1.7-km flyover is unlikely to be completed until April 2025, a source revealed.
"Since the integrated flyover is a critical component, operations cannot begin without its completion," the source added.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is also the PMRDA chairman, are set to review the project’s revised timeline. Both leaders will assess the progress and determine the next steps for expediting the remaining work.
Earlier in the year, Pawar had urged the concessionaire to accelerate the project’s pace and ensure quicker approvals for necessary traffic diversions. He had also emphasized that work should continue round the clock to make up for lost time. Despite these efforts, heavy traffic on the busy route has posed a significant challenge, hindering the flyover’s timely completion.
Officials noted that despite deploying additional manpower, issues such as obtaining multiple clearances for construction, shifting utilities, and right-of-way permissions caused significant delays. Permissions for installing steel girders at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) Chowk were delayed due to traffic concerns ahead of the elections and Diwali, further pushing back work.
"This is a major arterial road, and the high volume of traffic, along with VIP movement during the election period, prevented continuous work along this stretch," a PMRDA official said. Traffic diversions provided limited relief to the situation.
While Metro stations between Maan and Balewadi Highstreet are expected to be operational by April 2025, challenges remain along the University Chowk stretch, which requires road widening and the removal of electricity poles.
In response, the government had earlier directed Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited to prioritize the completion of the flyover between SPPU and E-Square Junction by November 2024. The plan includes expediting road widening and diversion approvals to minimize commuter inconvenience.
To support the project’s completion, the Centre has recently approved an additional ?200 crore in viability gap funding, bringing the total funding to ?600 crore out of the ?1,200 crore committed for the project. |
