Pune, 10th August 2026: IT professionals and daily commuters waiting for Pune Metro 3 will have to wait longer. The Shivajinagar-Hinjawadi metro corridor has been delayed further, with the exact launch date of its first phase still not announced.
The delay has raised concerns because other Pune Metro stretches started passenger services within days or a few weeks of receiving CMRS approval.
The first 12-km stretch has already received approval from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS). The clearance came around 15 days ago, and passenger services were expected to begin soon after.
However, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and Pune IT City Metro have not announced a definite date for the start of operations.
The delay is particularly noticeable when compared with other Pune Metro routes. The District Court-Swargate stretch received CMRS approval on September 24 and passenger services began five days later, on September 29. Similarly, the Ruby Hall Clinic-Ramwadi stretch received clearance on February 19 and operations started on March 6, around two weeks later.
The Shivajinagar-Hinjawadi corridor has now crossed the 15-day mark after receiving safety clearance, making it one of the longest waits for passenger services after CMRS approval on Pune's Metro network.
All major Pune Metro routes opened so far have been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With the launch date for Metro 3 still undecided, questions are being raised about whether political scheduling is contributing to the delay.
The issue has also raised concerns among commuters and IT professionals who have been waiting for the corridor to reduce travel time between Hinjawadi's IT hub and central Pune. However, officials from PMRDA and Pune IT City Metro have not officially linked the delay to the inauguration schedule.
The delay is not limited to the first phase. The overall Pune Metro 3 project is also facing another extension. According to project-related information, the deadline could be extended up to March 31, 2027. The project has 23 stations, and all of them are expected to become operational by December 31, 2026.
At some stations, however, passenger movement will initially be managed through only one staircase. The remaining staircases and associated works are expected to be completed by March 2027.
The Shivajinagar-Hinjawadi Metro was planned as a major public transport link for Pune's large IT workforce. The corridor is expected to provide an alternative to road travel between Hinjawadi and Shivajinagar, where traffic congestion remains a major concern.
With the first phase yet to open despite receiving safety clearance and the overall project facing another possible extension, commuters may have to wait several more months before the entire corridor becomes fully operational.
