Pune, 25 February 2026: The much-awaited Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Metro corridor is now expected to be launched in April, instead of the earlier planned March 2026 rollout. Officials have indicated that partial operations may begin by the end of April, while full-scale services across all stations could take another few months.
The 23-kilometre Metro Line 3 connects Hinjewadi IT Park to Shivajinagar and is considered a major infrastructure project for easing traffic in Pune’s IT corridor.
The project began in 2021 and is being implemented by Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) under a public-private partnership model through IT City Metro.
Although a trial run of the metro has been successfully conducted, several important works are still ongoing. Finishing work at stations, installation of lifts and escalators, signalling systems, firefighting systems, ticketing infrastructure, and other technical requirements are yet to be fully completed. Mandatory safety audits must also be cleared before the metro opens to the public.
PMRDA Chief Engineer Rinaz Pathan said, "We have not received any proposal from IT City Metro seeking a deadline extension. The metro is planned to start partially by the end of April. Some station works are still in progress, and the service will begin only after the necessary audits and approvals are completed."
IT employees have also raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding last-mile connectivity. They have demanded proper footpaths, parking facilities near stations, and shuttle bus services to ensure smooth access.
Prashant Pandit, Secretary of the Forum for IT Employees, said, "Priority must be given to important stations such as University Chowk, Hinjewadi, Baner, Shivajinagar and Balewadi High Street. There is still no clarity on which stations will open in the first phase. Without proper last-mile connectivity, traffic congestion in Hinjewadi may continue even after the metro starts."
During the construction phase, commuters and residents have faced damaged roads and heavy traffic congestion. With the monsoon season approaching, many IT professionals are hoping that at least partial metro services in April will bring some relief to daily travel between Hinjewadi and central Pune.
