PUNE (Metro Rail News): Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visit to Pune on November 3 has been postponed. As a result, the inauguration of the 23-km Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Pune Metro Line 3 has been delayed. November 16 is being considered for the revised visit, but neither the date nor the metro inauguration has been officially confirmed.
PM Modi was scheduled to visit Baramati to inaugurate Prerna Sthal, a memorial at Vidya Pratishthan, an educational institution headed by Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar. The memorial features a statue of Lord Buddha and displays prominent personalities.
As per Hindustan Times report, Yugendra Pawar, Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew and a trustee of Vidya Pratishthan, confirmed on Thursday that the visit had been deferred. He said November 16 could be the new date, but the institution had not received official confirmation.
Pune Metro Line 3 awaits an inauguration date
The change in the Prime Minister’s schedule has left the launch plans for Pune Metro Line 3 uncertain. The 23-km corridor will connect Hinjewadi, Pune’s major IT hub, with Shivajinagar in the city centre.
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The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) is implementing the project through a public-private partnership. Its officials did not respond to queries about the inauguration schedule.
The project was initially due for completion in March 2025 but has missed several deadlines because of construction delays and the clearance process.
Station clearances near completion
The corridor has made progress in obtaining statutory safety approvals. The Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) granted provisional clearance to the first 12-km section in July. So far, 17 of the line’s 23 stations have received clearance. Inspections of two additional stations near Balewadi have been completed, with approvals expected soon. If granted, the number of cleared stations will rise to 19, leaving four awaiting approval. The current clearance status is:
- Total corridor length: 23.3 km
- Total stations: 23
- Stations cleared: 17
- Additional stations inspected: 2, with approvals awaited
- Stations still awaiting inspection or approval: 4, subject to the pending clearances
The progress on station approvals marks a step towards operational readiness, but the inauguration schedule remains unsettled. The final launch plan will depend on the official programme and the completion of the required clearances.
Pune Metro Line 3 is intended to improve connectivity between Hinjewadi’s IT district and central Pune. With approvals advancing but no confirmed inauguration date, commuters will have to wait for an official announcement on when passenger services can begin.
Also Read: Pune Metro Expansion Gets ₹180 Cr Boost From Maharashtra Government
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