Five more Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar metro stations get CMRS nod, 17 of 23 now cleared
With five more stations cleared by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety, 17 of the 23 stations on the line now have approval, but no start date has been announced.
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The commute of Pune's IT employees could soon get easier. Five more stations of the metro project linking the Hinjewadi IT Park with Shivajinagar have received the approval of the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS). The route has 23 stations in all, and significant progress has been made towards starting passenger service at 17 of them. However, no official announcement has yet been made on the date from which the metro will run.
The metro line connects the IT park at Hinjewadi with the central part of Pune city. It is about 23.2 km long and 23 stations have been built on it for the convenience of passengers. The project is considered important for easing Pune's traffic congestion.
Earlier, 12 stations on this route had received safety clearance. With permission now granted to five more, the number of cleared stations has risen to 17. This is expected to speed up the process of starting passenger service on the route in phases.
However, the technical points suggested by the safety agency still have to be addressed and the remaining required procedures completed. Approval therefore does not mean that passenger service will begin at those stations immediately.
The metro could prove useful for the thousands of employees who travel daily to the Hinjewadi IT Park. At present, many people travelling in the Hinjewadi, Baner, Balewadi, Aundh and Shivajinagar areas face traffic jams. Vehicles on the roads increase especially during office hours, and journeys take longer.
Once the metro begins operating, commuters in these areas will have another public transport option. Office-goers' journeys are expected to become easier. It could also help reduce the pressure of private vehicles and other traffic on the roads.
Of the route's 23 stations, 17 have so far received safety approval. The process of approval and related work for the remaining six stations is continuing. After it is completed, a further decision can be taken on starting service on the entire route.
Meanwhile, people in Pune are watching whether passenger service will be started only at the 17 stations that have already been cleared. The answer will depend on the administration's further decisions and on completion of the required technical process.
The Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar metro has been said to be likely to be inaugurated on November 3. However, according to the available information, this date has not been officially confirmed. Pune residents are therefore watching whether the metro will run from November 3.
Though safety approval for the stations is an important milestone, the technical requirements and administrative process for starting passenger service must also be completed. The wait for an official announcement will therefore continue on when the inauguration will take place and from which date passenger service will actually begin.
