Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to virtually inaugurate the Pune Metro Line 3, connecting the Hinjewadi IT park to Shivajinagar, on November 3. The event, which will be attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, is scheduled to take place at Balewadi Stadium. Beyond the inauguration of the new corridor, officials have indicated that Mahametro is also planning a groundbreaking ceremony for its Phase 2 project at the same venue.
The project, spanning 23.3 kilometres, is a critical infrastructure development aimed at alleviating the chronic traffic congestion faced by thousands of IT professionals travelling to and from Hinjewadi. Currently, commuters in the region rely heavily on road-based transport, which has faced mounting pressure from daily traffic. According to the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari, officials have been directed to ensure all preparations for the formal programme are completed in time.
The path to this inauguration has seen several delays, leading to uncertainty among residents and daily commuters. Earlier, there were hopes that the corridor might be launched during a visit by the Prime Minister to Baramati, but that plan was postponed. The anticipation for the service has been high, with local housing societies and IT employee groups actively advocating for the commencement of operations to improve the city's transport network.
Technical and safety assessments have been ongoing to prepare the line for public use. The Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) has already granted clearance for 17 of the corridor's 23 stations. While inspections have been completed at two additional stations near Balewadi with approvals expected shortly, four other locations—RBI, Simla Chowk, Mahabaleshwar Chowk, and Baner—are still awaiting the necessary safety certification. The exact number of stations open to passengers upon launch will depend on these final regulatory approvals.
The planned launch has sparked debate regarding the necessity of a formal ceremony. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray recently questioned the delay, urging the state government to open the already cleared sections of the route to the public immediately rather than waiting for the Prime Minister’s schedule. He emphasized that a larger, formal inauguration could be held at a later date, arguing that public convenience should take precedence.
The demand for improved connectivity has been driven by local advocacy efforts. Sachin Londhe, president of the Pimpri Chinchwad Cooperative Housing Societies Federation, noted that IT employees had been seeking updates from authorities since July 2025. An online petition titled "Unclog Hinjawadi IT Park," launched in June 2025, garnered 39,000 signatures in just 40 days, highlighting the urgency of the situation. Employees have also engaged in discussions with police and civic authorities to address traffic movement in the interim.
In addition to the metro project, the government has approved a Rs 426-crore plan focused on enhancing local roads, improving traffic management, and strengthening last-mile connectivity within the Hinjewadi IT hub. The Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar corridor, being developed through a public-private partnership, represents a significant investment in the city’s transit infrastructure. Once fully operational, it is expected to provide a reliable alternative to road travel, effectively integrating Pune’s major technology corridor with the central urban core.
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