Pune: Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar Metro Trial Run Successful, Launch Nears

Pune, 29th July 2026: Pune’s much-awaited Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 has moved another step closer to opening for commuters after a successful trial run was conducted on Wednesday. The test run marks a significant milestone for the 23.3-km corridor, with officials indicating that the project is now in its final stages before commercial operations begin.

The trial was conducted in the presence of senior officials from the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL), Tata Group, Siemens Mobility and other project stakeholders. Officials reviewed the performance of the train, signalling systems and overall operational readiness of the corridor during the run.

The development comes just days after the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) granted provisional authorisation for passenger operations on the first 13-km stretch between Maan and R.K. Laxman Museum (Balewadi). The approved section comprises 12 stations and has been cleared for train operations at speeds of up to 80 kmph using Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling and a 750V DC third-rail traction system.

Metro Line 3, being developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model by PMRDA and Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited, will connect Hinjawadi’s Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park with Shivajinagar through 23 elevated stations. The corridor is expected to substantially reduce travel time for lakhs of daily commuters while easing congestion on one of Pune’s busiest traffic routes.

Although the corridor has now crossed key technical and safety milestones, passenger services will commence only after formal approval and inauguration by the state government. Earlier this year, the Maharashtra government had announced that Metro Line 3 would be opened in phases, with the Maan-Balewadi section expected to be operational first before the remaining stretch to Shivajinagar is commissioned.