Pune Metro’s Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar corridor has moved closer to opening after safety clearance was reported for five additional stations, taking the total number of approved stations to 17 out of 23. The report said senior officials from the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and metro authorities met as discussions around the inauguration and start of passenger services gathered pace.
The 23.2-kilometre corridor will connect Hinjewadi’s information technology offices with Balewadi, Aundh, the University area and Shivajinagar. Once operational, it is expected to provide an alternative to road travel for employees commuting to Hinjewadi and passengers travelling between the western parts of Pune and the city centre.
The first section, from Maan to the R. K. Laxman Museum, covers approximately 13 kilometres. Initially, 12 stations on this section received approval from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety. Following the completion of safety inspections at five more stations, preparations can now proceed for services at 17 stations, according to the report.
The remaining six stations have not yet completed the approval process. This leaves an operational question for the project authorities: whether passenger services will begin on the 17 stations that have received clearance or whether the entire corridor will be opened only after all 23 stations are approved. The report did not specify which of the six stations remain pending.
The safety clearances do not by themselves establish a confirmed passenger-service date. PMRDA is continuing work on technical requirements recommended during the safety review, while the final inauguration date is expected to be decided at the senior government level. November 3 was cited as a date under discussion, but the report said there had been no official confirmation from the Prime Minister’s Office or the relevant authorities.
The corridor has faced delays since its announcement, including the time required to begin construction and secure multiple permissions. Traffic management on existing roads, land acquisition, station sites, approvals from different departments and construction-related difficulties affected the project schedule, the report said.
The delayed delivery of the corridor has made the final approval process especially significant for commuters who depend on road transport to reach Hinjewadi. The area’s concentration of information technology companies has created a large daily travel demand, while the route also passes through established residential, educational and commercial districts. The metro’s immediate usefulness will therefore depend not only on the number of stations cleared, but also on whether the approved section provides a practical connection between major employment areas and the wider city network.
For now, the project has reached a preparatory stage rather than a confirmed opening. The next formal milestones are the completion of the remaining safety approvals, compliance with technical observations and an official announcement of the inauguration and passenger-service schedule.
