In a significant move to transform urban mobility, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has granted its approval for a major expansion of the Pune Metro rail network. The announcement was made by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on November 26.
Major Expansion Details: New Lines and Stations
This approval marks a pivotal moment, pushing the Pune Metro network beyond the 100-kilometer milestone. The project is hailed as a crucial step towards building a modern and sustainable urban transit system for the city.
The expansion involves the introduction of Line 4 and Line 4A under the second phase of the Pune Metro Rail Project. Line 4 will connect the stations from Kharadi to Hadapsar, Swargate, and Khadakwasla. Meanwhile, Line 4A will serve the route from Nal Stop to Warje and Manik Baug.
Projected Ridership and Project Timeline
The ridership forecasts for these new lines are substantial. Combined daily ridership for Lines 4 and 4A is projected to be around 4.09 lakh (409,000) passengers in 2028. This number is expected to surge to nearly 7 lakh by 2038, 9.63 lakh by 2048, and over 11.7 lakh by 2058.
Specifically, the Kharadi–Khadakwasla corridor is estimated to carry 3.23 lakh passengers in 2028, growing to a massive 9.33 lakh by 2058. The Nal Stop–Warje–Manik Baug spur line is forecast to see its ridership rise from 85,555 in 2028 to 2.41 lakh by 2058.
The total expansion covers 31.636 kilometers and will include 28 stations, strategically connecting IT hubs, commercial areas, educational institutions, and residential clusters across East, South, and West Pune. The government has set a completion timeline of five years at an estimated cost of ₹9,857.85 crore.
Funding, Implementation, and Strategic Significance
Funding for this ambitious project will be a joint effort by the Central government, the Maharashtra state government, and external bilateral and multilateral funding agencies. The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha-Metro) will be the implementing body, responsible for all civil, electrical, mechanical, and systems works.
This expansion is a vital component of Pune's Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP). The new lines are designed for seamless integration with existing and approved corridors. They will connect at Kharadi Bypass and Nal Stop (Line 2), and Swargate (Line 1).
Furthermore, the network will provide an interchange at the Hadapsar Railway Station and link with future corridors towards Loni Kalbhor and Saswad Road, ensuring smooth multimodal connectivity between metro, rail, and bus networks. Pre-construction activities, including topographical surveys, are already in progress.
Additional Railway Projects for Gujarat and Maharashtra
In the same Cabinet meeting, two other significant railway projects were approved with a combined estimated cost of ₹2,781 crore.
The projects include the doubling of the Dwarka-Kanalus rail line in Gujarat, which will improve connectivity to the Dwarkadhish temple and aid in transporting commodities like coal and cement.
The second project involves building third and fourth lines between Badlapur and Karjat in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to enhance passenger connectivity and meet future travel demands.
These railway initiatives are expected to add about 224 kilometers to the Indian Railways network, improve connectivity for approximately 585 villages, and contribute significantly to India's climate goals by reducing oil imports and CO2 emissions.
