Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Pune Metro Launch Delayed Again as Safety Clearance Still Awaited
Hinjawadi, 15th July 2026: The much-awaited launch of the first phase of the Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Metro (Metro Line 3) has been delayed once again, as the mandatory safety clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) is still pending. The latest postponement comes despite the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) announcing that passenger services would begin on July 15.
This is the latest in a series of missed deadlines for the project, which has seen multiple launch announcements over the past few years without becoming operational.
On June 10, PMRDA Commissioner Dr. Abhijit Chaudhari had announced that passenger operations on the first phase would commence by July 15. He had also said that work on five of the remaining 11 stations, including Shivajinagar, would be completed by the end of August, while the remaining six stations were expected to be ready by the end of December.
However, officials associated with the project said the delay is due to the pending CMRS inspection report. A six-member CMRS team inspected the metro corridor and its 12 stations between July 5 and July 9. The report, which will determine whether the corridor is fit for passenger operations or requires any additional modifications, is still awaited.
According to senior officials of Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL), the company executing the project, all preparations for the commencement of passenger services have been completed. They said operations can begin immediately after the CMRS grants approval and any observations, if raised, are addressed.
The first operational stretch will cover 12 stations: Man, Man MIDC Circle Phase II, Man Bus Station, Hinjewadi Phase II, Hinjewadi Phase II (Circle 1), Padmabhushan Chowk, Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, Hinjewadi Phase I, Wakad Chowk, Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex (Balewadi), MITCON (Balewadi), and R.K. Laxman Museum (Balewadi).
The ₹8,000-crore Metro Line 3 project, approved in 2017, is being developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model by Tata Group and Siemens in collaboration with PMRDA. The line will be operated by Keolis for 35 years after commissioning.
The delay in the CMRS approval process has also raised questions. The CMRS functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, where Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol is the Minister of State. Although the safety inspection concluded on July 9, the final report has not yet been issued, leaving commuters waiting for the long-delayed metro service.
The repeated postponements have disappointed thousands of daily commuters, particularly IT professionals travelling between Hinjewadi and Pune city, who were hoping the metro would ease traffic congestion and significantly reduce travel time. The launch date will now depend on the issuance of the CMRS safety clearance and the completion of any corrective measures recommended in the inspection report.
