The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken punitive action against the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro) for engaging in unauthorised excavation activities along Satara Road as part of the underground extension project linking Swargate to Katraj.
The PMC issued a formal notice and imposed fines on Maha-Metro for its failure to obtain proper permission prior to commencing excavation works. The excavation along Satara Road, intended for the underground extension of the Pune Metro, has attracted regulatory scrutiny due to its unauthorised nature. PMC officials revealed that a penalty of ₹6,000 per square foot has been imposed on Maha-Metro in accordance with relevant regulations governing construction activities within the city limits. Despite the excavation, which includes soil testing along the designated stretch, the underground metro extension project awaits final approval from the central government. The proposal, greenlit by the PMC in September 2021 and endorsed by the state government in April 2022, remains pending at the national level.
The extended metro corridor, stretching 5.4 kilometres from Swargate to Katraj, holds significant promise for enhancing connectivity and mobility across Pune’s urban landscape. Once operational, the underground stretch is poised to benefit residents residing in key areas such as Padmavati, Gul Tekdi, Market Yard, Dhankavdi, Bibwewadi, Balajinagar, Sainathnagar, Katraj, and Ambegaon.
Moreover, Maha-Metro has laid out comprehensive plans for the project, including detailed project reports and funding arrangements. With an estimated cost of ₹3,668 crore, the state government, PMC, and central authorities are expected to contribute significant funding towards the initiative. The PMC’s imposition of fines underscores the importance of adherence to regulatory protocols and proper authorisation in executing large-scale infrastructure projects within urban jurisdictions.
