Pune, 17th July 2026: Passenger services on the Hinjawadi–Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 are likely to begin within a week as the project is expected to receive final approval from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol said on Thursday after discussions with CMRS Commissioner Janak Garg in New Delhi.
According to Mohol, the safety inspection of the metro corridor was carried out between July 5 and July 8. During the inspection, the CMRS team suggested a few modifications that needed to be completed before granting permission for passenger operations.
Officials from Pune IT City Metro Rail Ltd (PITCMRL), the company executing the project, said all the changes recommended by the CMRS have now been completed. The compliance report has been submitted to the Commissioner, and the company is now awaiting final approval to begin commercial operations.
The first phase of Metro Line 3, covering the Maan to Balewadi section with 12 stations, was earlier expected to open by July 15, as announced by PMRDA Commissioner Dr. Abhijit Chaudhari in June. However, the launch was delayed because the mandatory CMRS clearance had not been received.
With the required safety modifications now completed and documents submitted, officials expect the final clearance to be issued shortly. Once approved, passenger services on the first phase of the Shivajinagar-Hinjawadi Metro will begin, marking a major step forward for Pune's metro network.