Big relief for IT employees: 17 stations of Pune Metro Line 3 to open on November 3; PM Modi to inaugurate Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar corridor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate Pune Metro Line 3, connecting Hinjewadi and Shivajinagar, virtually on November 3, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attending the event in Pune. Seventeen stations are expected to open to passengers, potentially bringing relief to IT employees who face daily traffic congestion while travelling to Hinjewadi’s IT parks. According to a TOI report, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari said officials had been instructed to complete preparations for the programme. The event is scheduled to take place at Balewadi Stadium, where other dignitaries are also expected to be present.

Mahametro is also planning a groundbreaking ceremony for its Phase 2 project at the venue, officials said.

Pune Metro Line 3 launch date

The proposed inauguration follows several delays that have left commuters waiting for the new metro service. IT employees working in Hinjewadi had hoped that the Prime Minister's planned visit to Baramati would provide an opportunity to launch the corridor. However, the postponement of that visit created further uncertainty over when passenger services would begin.


The 23.3-km Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar corridor is designed to improve connectivity between Pune's IT hub and the central part of the city. Once operational, it is expected to offer commuters an alternative to road travel and help ease congestion along busy routes.

Pune Metro Line 3: 17 stations receive safety clearance

The Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) has cleared 17 of the corridor's 23 stations, paving the way for the first phase of passenger operations.

Inspections have also been completed at two additional stations near Balewadi, with safety approvals expected shortly. Four stations: RBI, Simla Chowk, Mahabaleshwar Chowk and Baner, are still awaiting clearance.

The number of stations that can open will depend on the necessary safety approvals. The proposed November 3 inauguration is therefore a significant step towards starting services on the cleared section.

Aaditya Thackeray questions delay in Pune Metro opening

The proposed inauguration has also prompted questions about why commuters must wait for a formal ceremony when part of the corridor has already received safety clearance.

On Sunday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray urged the Maharashtra government to begin services on the approved stretch without waiting for the Prime Minister's schedule. He suggested that the authorities could organise a larger inauguration at a later date.

Thackeray also raised concerns about road conditions, traffic congestion and inadequate civic infrastructure in Hinjewadi, where the daily movement of IT employees puts pressure on the existing transport network.

Pune Metro Line 3: IT employees seek quicker public transport access

Commuters and housing society representatives have been pressing authorities to make the metro operational. Sachin Londhe, president of the Pimpri Chinchwad Cooperative Housing Societies Federation, said IT employees had been following up with PMRDA and metro officials since July 2025 but had not received a satisfactory response to their concerns.

Londhe said an online petition titled Unclog Hinjawadi IT Park was launched in June 2025 and collected 39,000 signatures in 40 days.

He stressed that the metro could provide an important public transport option for employees travelling to Hinjewadi's IT parks, helping reduce road congestion and improve connectivity. He also said employees had worked with civic and police authorities to improve traffic movement in the area after a meeting with the chief minister in July 2025.

Rs 426-crore plan to improve Hinjewadi traffic

Alongside the metro project, a Rs 426-crore plan has been approved to improve roads, traffic management and last-mile connectivity in Hinjewadi's IT hub.

The corridor is being developed by PMRDA through a public-private partnership. Its opening is expected to strengthen transport links between Hinjewadi and central Pune, particularly for employees who currently depend on road-based transport.


Inputs from agencies