Long-Awaited Pune Metro Extension Finally Gets Green Light
In a significant development for Pune's urban infrastructure, the much-delayed Swargate to Katraj Metro extension project is finally set to commence construction. The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited has officially issued the work order to the contractor, marking the beginning of actual work on this crucial underground stretch that has been in planning stages for years.
Project Details and Specifications
The ambitious 5.463 kilometer underground Metro extension will form an integral part of the PCMC to Swargate Line 1 corridor. This strategically important stretch will feature twin tunnels and five underground stations at Market Yard, Padmavati, Bibwewadi, Balajinagar, and Katraj. The project carries an estimated cost of Rs 2,945 crore, reflecting the scale and importance of this infrastructure development for Pune's growing transportation needs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for this extension work back in September last year, but the actual commencement faced multiple delays. These delays were primarily due to the finalization of contractors and subsequent additions to the station network along the proposed route.
Overcoming Hurdles and Moving Forward
According to Atul Gadgil, Director of Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited, the project implementation agency, "The work of the underground Metro rail route from Swargate to Katraj will start now as Pune Metro has issued a work order to the contractor." He further explained that the contractor will now begin assembling the tunnel boring machine (TBM) required for developing the underground route.
Chandrashekhar Tambekar, spokesperson for Pune Metro, provided additional context about the recent delays. "The contractor for the project had been finalized a few months ago," Tambekar stated. "But Pune Metro had sought a no-objection from the State Election Commission to start the work, citing the Model Code of Conduct due to the upcoming civic elections." The State Election Commission's subsequent approval cleared the final administrative hurdle, allowing the project to move forward.
Expanding Pune's Metro Network
This development comes at a time when Phase one of the Pune Metro rail has already been completed, with both the Vanaz-Ramwadi and Pimpri Chinchwad-Swargate routes becoming operational. The Swargate-Katraj extension represents a critical response to public demands for extending these routes to serve more areas of the city.
Interestingly, the project scope expanded during the planning phase. Initially, only three stations were proposed—Market Yard, Padmavati, and Katraj. However, following revisions and public consultations, the approval was modified to include two additional stations at Balajinagar and Bibwewadi, significantly enhancing the route's coverage and accessibility.
Pune Metro already operates an underground route from Shivajinagar to Swargate, which navigates challenging terrain including crossing the Mutha River and passing through densely populated old city areas. This route has been operational since September last year, providing valuable experience for the upcoming underground construction.
Simultaneously, extension work on the elevated Pimpri Chinchwad-Nigdi route has already begun, indicating comprehensive expansion of Pune's Metro network. The Central government has also approved the implementation of the second phase of Pune Metro, which promises to further increase the Metro rail network across the city with new routes connecting Khadakwasla to Kharadi via Swargate and Hadapsar.
