Integrated Flyover for Pune Metro’s Shivajinagar-Hinjawadi Line Delayed, Expected to Complete by April 2025
Pune, 13th December 2024: The completion of the integrated flyover for Pune Metro Line 3, a key element of the 23 km corridor, has been delayed. Initially slated for completion by November 2024, the deadline has now been extended to April 2025 due to various challenges faced during construction.
The delay is expected to impact the launch of the Metro stretch connecting Maan (Hinjawadi) to Shivajinagar, as the flyover is an essential component for the operational readiness of the route. An official explained, “The construction of the ramp and deck slabs is still pending. Additionally, we are waiting for permissions for certain stretches, meaning the 1.7 km flyover won’t be completed until April 2025.”
Another official emphasized the importance of the flyover for the project’s completion: “This flyover is a crucial part of the infrastructure. Without its completion, we cannot begin Metro operations. While work continues on the entire corridor, the expected completion is now set for the end of next year.”
A major factor contributing to the delay is the heavy traffic on the route, which has hindered progress despite regular monitoring and review meetings. “This road is one of the busiest in the city, and traffic congestion, especially during election periods, slowed down construction,” said one of the officials involved in the project.
Clearance issues for construction activities, including right-of-way and utility relocations, have further complicated the timeline. The installation of steel girders at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) Chowk, for example, was delayed due to restrictions during the elections and Diwali. “We could not proceed with certain activities, such as installing the steel girders, as the route was heavily congested with traffic,” an official stated.
Another official from the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) noted, “The elections and VIP movements during that time made it impossible to maintain continuous work along this key stretch.”
The delay was compounded by the inability to deploy heavy machinery during the election period and the challenges faced with ramp construction at Pashan and Baner, as well as obtaining necessary clearances near Raj Bhavan.
Despite these setbacks, around 75% of the work on the integrated flyover has been completed, and officials are optimistic that the remaining tasks will be finished by April 2025, allowing the Pune Metro Line 3 to become operational.
