Why Was Pune Metro Line 3 Delayed for So Long? Hinjawadi–Shivajinagar Corridor Misses Eight Launch Deadlines
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Pune, 3rd November 2026: Pune’s long-awaited Hinjawadi–Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 has finally been inaugurated, but the journey to its opening has been marked by repeated deadline extensions, construction hurdles, pending safety approvals and administrative delays. The 23-km corridor, expected to provide relief to thousands of daily commuters travelling between the IT hub and central Pune, missed eight proposed launch dates before its inauguration on Tuesday.
The project was originally scheduled to be completed within 40 months, with March 25, 2025, set as its completion deadline. However, the timeline was extended to 31st March 2026, after the concessionaire sought an extension of 543 days, citing concurrent delays during construction.
Construction and utility-shifting hurdles
One of the major reasons behind the delay was the difficulty of carrying out construction along busy arterial roads. The project required barricading permissions, traffic management and shifting of existing utilities, including high-voltage electricity lines and underground services.
In August 2025, PMRDA officials confirmed that delays in obtaining barricading permissions and completing utility-shifting work had affected construction progress. Heavy traffic and VIP movement along key roads also restricted the availability of uninterrupted working hours.
The project also involved construction of an integrated double-decker flyover between University Chowk and the E-Square junction, adding to the coordination requirements.
Safety clearance delayed passenger operations
Even after substantial construction work was completed, the metro could not begin passenger services without mandatory approval from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS).
In July 2026, the launch was further delayed as the authorities awaited the necessary safety clearance. Although the inspection process was underway, passenger operations could not commence without the regulator’s approval.
Election code and inauguration uncertainty
After the safety clearance was received in July, commuters expected the metro to open soon. However, another hurdle emerged in September when the Election Commission announced Maharashtra Legislative Council elections for the Graduates’ and Teachers’ constituencies.
The Model Code of Conduct came into force in the concerned constituencies and remained in effect through October, affecting plans for the public inauguration.
PMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Abhijit Chaudhary had also confirmed that the authority was awaiting an inauguration date from the Prime Minister’s Office. The authority was required to seek guidance from election officials before proceeding with the inauguration programme.
According to a report published by Punekar News on September 24, 2026, the corridor had missed eight proposed launch dates over the preceding five months.
What happens next?
The 23.203-km corridor, developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model at an estimated cost of ₹8,313 crore, has 23 stations connecting Maan in Hinjawadi to Shivajinagar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the corridor on November 3, 2026. Passenger services are scheduled to begin on 4th November, initially covering 17 stations.
The remaining stations are expected to become operational in phases, with the complete corridor targeted for January 2027.
For thousands of IT professionals and daily commuters, the metro represents an important alternative to the heavily congested Hinjawadi–Baner–Shivajinagar road network. However, the repeated postponements have raised questions about project planning, coordination between agencies and the execution of major urban infrastructure projects in Pune.
