Pune Metro Line 3’s project contractor and operator has used construction scrap to create a miniature replica of the corridor’s train, turning discarded galvanised iron steel into a commemorative gift presented to the Maharashtra Chief Minister during the line’s inauguration ceremony.
Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL) CEO Anil Kumar Saini presented the miniature train, which was made from approximately 2 kg of discarded GI steel scrap generated during construction. The initiative was described as an effort to give project waste a new use while showcasing the design of the newly operational metro corridor.
The model was developed through multiple rounds of brainstorming and experimentation. Its production involved welding, shaping, detailing and finishing to reproduce distinctive features of the actual Pune Metro Line 3 train. The company said the work required detailed craftsmanship rather than simply assembling leftover material into a display object.
The sustainability effort also extended to the packaging used for the presentation. The customised bag accompanying the miniature train was made from approximately 30 discarded plastic wrappers. These wrappers were processed and converted into reusable fabric through a specialised technique, with women artisans involved in producing the bags.
Ecokaari and Infine Art Ventures LLP supported the implementation of the initiative. PITCMRL said the project forms part of its wider effort to incorporate sustainability into the development and operations of Pune Metro Line 3. However, the information available does not specify the total quantity of construction waste generated by the corridor, the proportion reused, or any financial savings from the initiative.
The company had earlier used reclaimed construction material for “Confluence”, a 17-foot-tall artistic installation at the Operations Control Centre building at the Maan depot. The installation weighs approximately 1.6 tonnes and incorporates around 1.5 tonnes of reclaimed GI steel, mild steel and mixed-metal scrap generated during construction.
Pune Metro Line 3 is a 23-km elevated corridor with 23 stations, connecting Maan in Hinjawadi with the District Court station in Shivajinagar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the corridor on November 3, 2026, and passenger services began on November 4. The route recorded approximately 50,000 passenger journeys on its first day, despite the Diwali holiday period.
The corridor is intended to improve connectivity between Shivajinagar and Hinjawadi, one of Pune’s major information-technology hubs. PITCMRL’s scrap-reuse initiatives place material management alongside the corridor’s transport function, but the project’s broader waste-performance record will depend on how much construction material is documented, recovered and reused across the full infrastructure programme.
