Fadnavis rides new Pune Metro stretch from Balewadi to Hinjewadi, chats with schoolgirls and IT staff

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday travelled by Metro from Balewadi to Hinjewadi on the newly opened Pune Metro line. He bought the first ticket on the route himself. He spoke to schoolgirls and IT sector employees on board about their daily commute.

The new line was inaugurated and a foundation stone ceremony for the second phase of Pune Metro was also held. Fadnavis made the journey afterwards. He boarded at the Shivchhatrapati Sports Complex station in Balewadi and covered about six km to the Hinjewadi Phase 2 station. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Ajit Pawar also travelled with him.

During the ride, Pune Metro Managing Director Shravan Hardikar briefed the Chief Minister on the route. He explained the layout of the corridor, the stations and the main features of the project.

Fadnavis spent much of the journey talking to fellow passengers. He asked the schoolgirls and IT employees how they found the Metro experience, what facilities are available and how the new line will make their daily travel easier. Thousands of people travel to the Hinjewadi IT hub for work every day, and the line is expected to be especially useful for them.

The train was a Pink Metro run entirely by a team of women pilots. Lead train pilot Pragati Biradar drove the train, while train pilot Aishwarya Suryapujari also played an important role in the journey. Their presence drew attention to the growing role of women in running the city's public transport.

Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State Madhuri Misal, Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor Ravi Landge and PMRDA Commissioner Abhijeet Choudhary also took part in the journey. Other elected representatives and senior officials were on the train with them.