Pune Metro’s Maan Station experienced water leakage during rainfall on Sunday evening after a temporary blockage in a rainwater drainage pipe, according to the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), which said the obstruction has since been removed and that no structural defect was found.
The leakage occurred at the terrace slab of the station’s entry structure, which is open to the sky. In a statement, PMRDA Chief Engineer Rinaj Pathan said the temporary obstruction prevented rainwater from draining, causing water to accumulate on the slab and overflow. The water then seeped through the gap between the station box and the entry structure before becoming visible at the mezzanine level.
“The temporary blockage in the drainage pipe has been removed, and rainwater is now draining normally,” PMRDA said in the statement. The authority attributed the incident solely to the blocked drainage pipe and maintained that there was no defect in the structural components of the station box or the entry structure.
Videos circulated on social media showed water dripping from the ceiling at Maan Metro Station while rain was falling. The visuals also showed water accumulating in areas used for passenger movement, with station staff using buckets and floor wipers to clear the affected areas.
The incident drew attention because it occurred two days before the scheduled inauguration of Pune Metro’s Shivajinagar-Hinjawadi Metro Line 3. The leakage prompted questions from residents and information technology professionals about the station’s readiness and whether drainage, electrical installations, escalators, lifts and other passenger facilities had been adequately checked before the opening.
The 23-station corridor is being implemented by PMRDA through a public-private partnership involving Tata Group and Siemens. The main inauguration ceremony is scheduled for November 3 at the Balewadi Sports Complex, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expected to attend.
Regular passenger services are expected to begin on November 4 at 17 of the corridor’s 23 stations, according to the announced plan. The project has been promoted as an environment-friendly metro corridor and includes features such as women locomotive pilots and solar-powered infrastructure.
PMRDA’s statement addresses the immediate cause identified by the authority, but the incident has also brought attention to the operational checks required before passenger services begin. The authority said the drainage blockage had been cleared and that rainwater was flowing normally from the station structure.
