PUNE: The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MahaMetro) has proposed a completely underground metro extension on the Swargate to Katraj route to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) headquarters at an estimated cost of Rs 3,246.19 crore for the 5.4-km stretch.
As per the Detailed Project Report (DPR), there will be three stations on the route. MahaMetro suggested four alignment options and chose the completely underground route. The other three options were ruled out due to economic constraints.
The three options included one parallel to Satara Road, which would face a steep gradient and affect 44 properties; underground-cum-elevated route from Market Yard Road to Kondhwa to Katraj, which has challenges of land acquisition; underground-cum-elevated route via Swami Vivekanand Road which has challenges of accommodating upcoming flyovers.
As per the proposed plan, the first underground metro station would be at Market Yard, second at Saibaba Nagar and third at Katraj. MahaMetro has proposed to acquire land of 2.19 hectares from government and private authorities. To generate funds, MahaMetro is eyeing support from the Centre, State, PMC and generating revenue from leasing land.
MahaMetro is expecting a daily ridership of 6.6 lakh on the Nigdi-Katraj route by 2027.