Pune Metro Line 3, connecting the Hinjewadi IT hub with Shivajinagar, was inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, while the foundation stone was laid for four additional corridors under Pune Metro Phase II. The 23-km corridor has been developed at an estimated cost of more than ₹8,300 crore and is intended to improve connectivity between one of Pune’s largest employment centres and the city’s established urban core.
Speaking through video conferencing, Modi said India’s operational metro network had expanded from 248 km in 2014 to nearly 1,200 km. Metro services, which were available in five cities in 2014, are now operational in 26 cities, he said, adding that more than one crore people travel by metro every day.
The Prime Minister said Pune Metro Line 3 would reduce commuting time and ease traffic congestion, particularly for IT professionals travelling between Hinjewadi and other parts of the city. He said stronger metro connectivity would improve the city’s productivity and support Pune’s role as a centre for information technology, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, startups, innovation and manufacturing.
The four corridors for which foundation stones were laid are Lines 2A, 2B, 4 and 4A. Together, they involve an estimated investment of around ₹13,500 crore and are planned to strengthen links between important residential, commercial and IT hubs across Pune. The announcement extends the city’s metro expansion beyond the Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar connection and places additional corridors within the next phase of infrastructure development.
Modi also highlighted the Public-Private Partnership model used to develop Pune Metro Line 3, saying cooperation between the government and private sector could accelerate infrastructure development. The project’s PPP structure is significant because it adds a private-sector delivery component to a major urban transport corridor, while the new Phase II commitments involve a larger network-wide expansion.
Maharashtra’s operational metro network has grown from 11 km in 2014 to nearly 200 km, according to figures cited by the Prime Minister. Work is under way on more than 680 km of metro lines in the state, with investments exceeding ₹2.5 lakh crore, he said. The figures place Pune’s new corridor within a broader state and national push to expand rail-based public transport in growing urban centres.
The Prime Minister said improved urban infrastructure would contribute to India’s economic growth and called for local bodies and private stakeholders to work together to transform smaller cities into growth centres. The next implementation stage for Pune will involve progress on the four Phase II corridors announced during the event.
