Major Boost for Pune's Public Transport Infrastructure
In a significant development for Pune's urban mobility, the Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its official approval for two new metro lines under Phase 2 of the Pune Metro project. The approval came during a meeting held on Wednesday, marking a crucial step forward in expanding the city's mass rapid transit system.
Detailed Project Specifications and Connectivity
The newly approved corridors include the Kharadi–Hadapsar–Swargate–Khadakwasla (Line 4) and Nal Stop–Warje–Manik Baug (Line 4A). Together, these lines will span an impressive 31.6 kilometers with 28 elevated stations, strategically connecting the eastern, southern, and western sectors of Pune.
The collective estimated cost for both lines has been pegged at Rs 9,857.85 crore. According to the funding structure, the financial burden will be shared jointly by the Government of India, the Maharashtra state government, and various external funding agencies.
Project timelines indicate that construction work is expected to commence soon, with both lines targeted for completion within five years from the start of operations. Pre-construction activities including topographical surveys and detailed design consultancy have already been initiated, signaling Maha Metro's preparedness to execute the project efficiently.
Strategic Integration and Future Connectivity
These new lines represent the second major approval under Pune Metro's Phase 2, following earlier sanctions for the Vanaz–Chandni Chowk (Line 2A) and Ramwadi–Wagholi/Vitthalwadi (Line 2B) stretches. Both newly approved corridors are integral components of Pune's Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP).
The integration strategy includes connections with operational and sanctioned corridors at Kharadi bypass and Nal Stop. Additionally, the lines will provide an important interchange at Hadapsar railway station and establish connectivity with future corridors planned toward Loni Kalbhor and Saswad Road.
Maha Metro, the executing agency, has emphasized plans to ensure smooth multimodal connectivity across metro, railway, and bus networks, creating a comprehensive public transportation ecosystem for Pune residents.
Projected Ridership and Network Expansion
According to detailed projections, the combined daily ridership on Line 4 and 4A is expected to reach 4.09 lakh passengers by 2028. The numbers are projected to grow substantially over the subsequent decades, reaching nearly 7 lakh in 2038, 9.63 lakh in 2048, and exceeding 11.7 lakh by 2058.
Breaking down the ridership forecasts, the Kharadi–Khadakwasla corridor alone is expected to handle 3.23 lakh passengers daily in 2028, growing to an impressive 9.33 lakh by 2058. Meanwhile, the Nal Stop–Warje–Manik Baug spur line is projected to see ridership increase from 85,555 to 2.41 lakh passengers over the same thirty-year period.
This expansion will push Pune Metro's total network length beyond the significant 100-kilometer milestone, transforming the city's public transportation landscape. The approval comes at a crucial time, ahead of upcoming civic polls in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, highlighting the importance of infrastructure development in urban governance.
City MP Muralidhar Mohol revealed that a recent meeting with Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar in Delhi helped accelerate the approval process for both the Kharadi-Khadakwasla and Nal Stop-Warje Metro lines.
The enhanced metro network is expected to significantly improve mass transport services across Pune while strengthening connectivity between Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, addressing long-standing transportation challenges in the rapidly growing metropolitan region.
