The Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro corridor has moved closer to opening after five additional stations received safety clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety, taking the number of approved stations to 17 out of the planned 23. The development clears the way for passenger services on a substantial part of the delayed Pune corridor, although the inauguration date and the final operating plan have not been officially confirmed.
The 23.2-kilometre line will connect Hinjewadi’s information technology district with Balewadi, Aundh, the University area and Shivajinagar. It is expected to provide an alternative to road travel for thousands of employees commuting daily to Hinjewadi and for passengers travelling between western Pune and the city centre.
According to the report, the first section between Maan and the R. K. Laxman Museum covers approximately 13 kilometres. Twelve stations on this section had earlier received CMRS approval. The safety inspection of five more stations has now been completed, allowing the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority to prepare for services across 17 stations, subject to completion of technical requirements identified during the safety process.
The remaining six stations are still undergoing the approval process. This leaves an important operational question unresolved: whether passenger services will begin over the 17 stations that have received clearance or whether the authorities will wait until all 23 stations are ready before opening the full corridor. The report does not specify which stations are included in the latest clearance or set out a confirmed service pattern.
The project has faced a prolonged development period since it was announced. Work and approvals were affected by road traffic management, land acquisition, availability of station sites, permissions from multiple departments and construction-related difficulties. These delays have made the start of actual passenger operations the central concern for residents and workers who depend on the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar connection.
A meeting involving senior officials from the PMRDA and the metro authorities was held as preparations advanced. November 3 has emerged as a possible inauguration date, with the report indicating that the metro could be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the date has not been officially announced by the Prime Minister’s Office or the relevant authorities. A senior-level decision is still expected before the programme can be confirmed.
The distinction between inauguration and commercial passenger service will also be significant for commuters. Even if an inauguration date is finalised, the start of regular operations will depend on the completion of the required technical work, operating arrangements and approvals for the stations included in the opening phase. The immediate milestones are the completion of the remaining six stations’ safety process, clarification of the initial service stretch and an official announcement on the inauguration and passenger-service date.
