When Will the Shivajinagar-Hinjawadi Route Open? Pune Metro Line 3 Launch Pushed Again
Hinjawadi, 10th June 2026: With the launch of Pune Metro Line 3 missing successive deadlines, frustration is mounting among thousands of commuters who travel daily between Pune city and Hinjawadi’s Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park. For many, the prolonged delay has become synonymous with endless hours spent in traffic congestion on one of the city’s busiest corridors.
“The metro works are being completed in accordance with the standards and requirements prescribed by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS). Once all works are completed, the CMRS team will conduct its inspection. Following the necessary approvals, metro services will commence shortly. There is no compromise whatsoever on the quality or safety standards of the project,” said Yogesh Kulkarni, Superintending Engineer, PMRDA.
Commuters say they spend three to four hours every day navigating traffic jams between Shivajinagar and Hinjawadi, significantly affecting their productivity, work-life balance, and overall quality of life. Many have questioned why the project, which was expected to provide relief to lakhs of office-goers, continues to face repeated delays despite multiple announcements regarding its launch.
“There have been several launch dates over the past year, but the metro is still not operational. Every day, thousands of commuters remain stuck in traffic for hours. People are now losing confidence in the timelines being announced and are waiting for the service to actually begin,” said commuters travelling along the corridor.
The 23-km Shivajinagar-Hinjawadi Metro Line 3 is being implemented by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The project is being executed by Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) promoted by the Tata Group.
The corridor is expected to provide a crucial mass transit link between Pune’s central business districts and the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, one of the country’s largest IT hubs. The project was originally scheduled for completion by March 2025. However, delays related to land acquisition, utility shifting, permissions, and the availability of project land resulted in the deadline being extended.
PMRDA subsequently revised the completion target to March 31, 2026. However, even after the expiry of the extended deadline, metro services have not commenced. Over the past year, authorities have announced several likely launch timelines, including March 2025, September 2025, December 2025, March 2026, May 2026, and most recently June 15, 2026.
According to officials, trial runs on the corridor have been completed and the process of obtaining safety clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) is underway. Following the inspection, the issuance of the mandatory safety certificate could take approximately 20 to 25 days.
Meanwhile, work on several passenger facilities at stations is still in progress. The installation of lifts, escalators, pedestrian bridges, and station access infrastructure continues at multiple locations along the corridor. The ongoing work has raised concerns among some commuters, who believe all infrastructure and safety-related facilities must be fully completed before the line is opened to the public.
Metro Line 3 Timeline
* February 9, 2018: Maharashtra Cabinet approves the project under the PPP model.
* July 18, 2018: Project declared an “important urban transport project” by the state government.
* December 8, 2018: Foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
* September 21, 2019: Concession agreement signed.
* November 25, 2021: Construction work begins.
Deadlines Extended
* Original deadline: March 2025
* Extended deadline: March 31, 2026
* Current expected launch: June 2026
As the project continues to miss deadlines, public impatience is growing. For thousands of commuters battling daily congestion on the Hinjawadi corridor, the long-awaited metro remains a promise yet to be delivered.
