For residents of Bavdhan, Kothrud, and the western suburbs of Pune, the Metro has always been almost there — but not quite. The Vanaz station has been the end of the line, forcing commuters to switch to bikes or autos for the final kilometres home. That gap is now closing. Groundwork has finally begun on the 1.5-kilometre elevated extension from Vanaz to Chandni Chowk, a project approved last year that will add two stations: Kothrud Depot and Chandni Chowk. A metro agency official confirmed that soil testing and surveys are underway in the Chandni Chowk area.
A metro authority official stated that construction will be carried out in phases, with barricading coordinated alongside traffic police to preserve maximum road space for vehicular movement. An agency was appointed last month to build the viaduct and the two stations. A flyover has also been proposed near the Kothrud Depot area and will be built parallel to the Metro viaduct. Over recent months, officials conducted field visits with municipal representatives to finalise station locations and entry-exit points. A foot overbridge at Chandni Chowk is also being designed to provide safe access from the main highway. Urban infrastructure analysts note that the Vanaz–Chandni Chowk stretch should have been part of the initial Metro planning. Its absence forced a multi-modal commute — bike or auto to Vanaz, then Metro onward — that defeated the purpose of seamless public transport. The extension, though only 1.5 kilometres, transforms Chandni Chowk from a chaotic highway junction into a legitimate transit node. For the western entry point of Pune, that shift is significant.
A resident of Bavdhan described the absence of a Metro connection up to Chandni Chowk as a major limitation, adding that they often travel to Vanaz station by bike or auto just to access the Metro. Another resident from Kothrud noted that planning the Metro only up to Vanaz never made sense. These are not isolated complaints. They reflect a pattern in Indian Metro expansions: initial phases prioritise high-density corridors but stop short of natural terminuses, leaving last-mile gaps that private vehicles fill. The existing viaduct near the Vanaz depot has already been extended by a few metres. Construction of the new viaduct toward Chandni Chowk will start from this point. For regular commuters, the demand is simple: complete the stretch at the earliest. For the city, the lesson is about thinking in systems, not segments. A 1.5-kilometre gap can undo 15 kilometres of Metro utility.
Pune Metro Vanaz Chandni Chowk Extension Groundwork Begins
