Pune Metro Line 3 commuters may face serious parking difficulties at several high-footfall stations despite the Pune Municipal Corporation allocating eight amenity plots in Baner and Balewadi for passengers using the Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar corridor.
The parking facilities are intended to allow commuters to leave their vehicles near stations and continue their journeys by metro. The identified plots are located between 100 and 400 metres from the respective stations. However, parking availability remains uneven across the corridor, with several stations in central Pune and Hinjewadi still offering limited or no dedicated space.
One of the larger facilities has been developed near Amar Tech Park in Balewadi, close to PMR-11 station. It covers approximately 30,000 square feet. Another facility, spread across about 21,000 square feet, has been arranged in the ABZ area of Baner near PMR-14 station, with space for both two-wheelers and cars.
Additional parking arrangements are being planned on PMC plots near Balewadi Stadium, NICMAR, Ramnagar, Laxmi Nagar, Balewadi Phata and Baner Gaon. These facilities are located roughly 250 to 400 metres from the corresponding metro stations, according to the report.
The situation is more difficult along the congested central Pune stretch. Stations near Savitribai Phule Pune University Chowk, Agriculture College, Sakal Nagar, Aundh and Bremen Chowk have limited or no space even for two-wheeler parking. The recently constructed double-decker flyover along Ganeshkhind Road has also reduced available road space in some stretches.
Commuters who park vehicles on roads near stations could face towing action if their vehicles obstruct traffic movement. Similar concerns have been reported around Hinjewadi’s Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 information technology zones, where unregulated roadside parking near metro access points could add to congestion.
To address the access problem, the metro operator is looking to strengthen alternative connections to stations. These include PMPML feeder buses, e-rickshaw stands and shared bicycles or electric scooters. The objective is to improve the journey between homes or workplaces and the nearest station, particularly for passengers who do not have access to dedicated parking.
Commuters from Pirangut, Mulshi, Ghotawade and nearby rural areas can use the park-and-ride facility at Maan Depot. The facility allows passengers to leave two-wheelers or cars at the depot before travelling towards Hinjewadi or Pune. Shivajinagar is another important interchange point, with passengers from Swargate, Pimpri and Kothrud able to access Line 3 through the Civil Court interchange or connections from MahaMetro’s existing Lines 1 and 2.
Under MahaMetro’s parking policy, pay-and-park facilities may charge nominal hourly rates. Indicative charges are around ₹8–₹10 for two-wheelers and ₹20–₹30 for cars, while some stations may offer helmet storage for approximately ₹5.
The immediate challenge for Line 3 is therefore not only train operations but also the availability of safe and convenient station access. The parking arrangements in Baner and Balewadi provide some capacity, while remaining locations along the corridor continue to depend on planned facilities, feeder services and other last-mile options.
