PM Modi opens Pune Metro Line 3, lays foundation for four Phase 2 corridors

Hinjewadi, November 3, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday virtually inaugurated Pune Metro Line 3, which connects Maan-Hinjewadi with Shivajinagar. At the same event he laid the foundation stone for four new metro corridors under Pune Metro Phase 2. The expansion is expected to strengthen connectivity in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and the Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR) and ease traffic congestion.

Addressing the inauguration, Modi said the expansion of Pune Metro would give new momentum to the city's development. He said the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar corridor would provide better connectivity to Pune's large IT hub and link the old and new parts of the city.

Speaking of metro expansion in the country, Modi said the operational metro network was 248 km in 2014 and is now about 1,200 km. Metro service now runs in 26 cities. More than one crore people travel by metro every day, and India is among the three countries with the largest metro networks in the world.

On Maharashtra, he said the operational metro network in the state was only 10-11 km in 2014 and has now grown to about 200 km. Work is under way on more than 680 km of further routes. According to Modi, more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore has been invested in metro infrastructure in the state.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of public-private partnership in developing urban infrastructure. He said modern public transport saves travel time, raises productivity and gives momentum to the economy.

Modi assured farmers in Maharashtra hit by unseasonal weather of help from the Centre and the state government. He appealed to people to stand by drought-affected and distressed farm families on the occasion of Diwali.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that by 2030 Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and the PMR area would emerge as a major mobility hub of the country. According to him, work is on several projects to improve connectivity, including metro corridors, electric buses, inner and outer ring roads, tunnels and a new airport.

Referring to the difficulties of employees travelling to Hinjewadi, Fadnavis said thousands of IT professionals lose one to two hours in traffic every day. The new metro corridor would bring big relief, especially to IT sector employees. He recalled that the foundation stone of the project was laid by Prime Minister Modi himself in 2018, and said it was gratifying that he has also inaugurated it.

Fadnavis also said Pune Metro Line 3 is the country's first metro project built on the PPP model. Tata Projects and Siemens completed it under the design-build-operate-transfer (DBOT) structure. He called it a "pink powered" metro because of the large participation of women in its construction and operation.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said Metro Line 3 would play an important role in reducing traffic congestion and making the daily commute faster, safer and more comfortable. He called it a major milestone for Pune's public transport and said the government was committed to building a modern, congestion-free city. He also recalled the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's contribution to Pune's development, and said more than 90 lakh passengers have travelled on Pune Metro so far.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar said Pune Metro Line 3 would become India's first metro corridor run 100 per cent by women. About 100 women train pilots will be involved in its operation, and women will make up 50 per cent of the staff at metro stations.

She said the Rs 8,313 crore project was built on the PPP model. She also mentioned Ajit Pawar's contribution in getting the detailed project report for the metro prepared, and in securing approval and funds.

According to Sunetra Pawar, four more Phase 2 corridors have received Union Cabinet approval. They are 31 km long, will have 28 stations and have an estimated cost of Rs 9,858 crore. They will improve connectivity to areas such as Chandni Chowk, Kothrud, Bavdhan, Viman Nagar, Kharadi and Wagholi. When all the proposed projects are completed, the Pune Metro network will go beyond 100 km. She also said road works worth Rs 426 crore have been approved to improve access to the metro stations at Hinjewadi, Maan and Marunji.

Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol called the inauguration a historic milestone for Pune. According to him, the 23-km Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar corridor will take the Pune Metro network to about 55 km and benefit lakhs of passengers, including IT professionals. Mohol said Pune Metro recorded 9,58,603 trips in September.

The four new corridors whose foundation stones were laid are Khadakwasla-Kharadi, Vanaz-Chandni Chowk, Ramwadi-Wagholi and Manik Baug-Nal Stop. Together they will cover about 46 km and strengthen connectivity in the eastern, western and southern parts of Pune. PMRDA Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Choudhary briefed the gathering on the project in the introductory address.

Those present included Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Union Minister Manohar Lal (virtually), Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol, Minister Chandrakant Patil, Minister of State Madhuri Misal, Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor Ravi Landge and MP Shrirang Barne.

Key facts on Pune Metro Line 3: it is a 23.203-km elevated corridor connecting Maan-Hinjewadi with Shivajinagar, with 23 elevated stations. Built at a cost of Rs 8,313 crore on the PPP-DBFOT model, it links the Hinjewadi IT hub directly with Shivajinagar. The corridor will have about 90 women train operators, and women will make up 50 per cent of the staff. It is expected to give thousands of IT professionals and other commuters a faster, safer and easier journey.