Pune: The first phase of the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro is likely to miss its July 15 launch target. While the mandatory inspection by the commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) has concluded, authorities are still awaiting the final safety clearance required to begin operations.Commercial services on the 12-station stretch between Maan and Balewadi can only commence once the CMRS submits its report and the final safety certificate is issued.Abhijit Chaudhari, commissioner, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), said the rollout would take at least a fortnight following the submission of the CMRS report. “Once the report is received, it will take at least 15 days for the official rollout. I will also visit all 12 stations to ensure any remaining work is completed before services are launched,” Chaudhari told TOI on Thursday.This marks the latest in a series of setbacks for the 23km corridor, which has now missed five completion deadlines. In March, the state govt opted for a phased rollout, prioritising the Maan-Balewadi section for a July 15 opening, while the remaining 11 stations were scheduled for a later date.The recent CMRS visit served as the final statutory safety inspection, following preliminary checks in May. Once safety clearance is granted, a launch date will be finalised in consultation with the state government.The timeline for the project has been repeatedly revised. Earlier this year, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the corridor would open in two phases—the first in May and the second in July. The May target was subsequently pushed to the end of June, and then to July 15. With the safety certification still pending, that date now appears out of reach.For thousands of IT professionals and daily commuters struggling with Hinjewadi’s notorious traffic, the delay is a major disappointment.“Commuters have lost count of the revised timelines,” said Sandeep Kulkarni, an IT professional who travels daily from Wakad to Hinjewadi. “Every few weeks, there is a new launch date. We’ve been hearing the Metro is ready for months, but we are still waiting. People just want the service to start.”Rashmi Joshi, who commutes from Baner, said the prolonged wait is testing the public’s patience. “We planned our travel expecting the Metro to begin this year. Every delay means more time stuck in gridlock. At this point, we are waiting for trains, not another announcement.”Another commuter, Nitin Deshmukh, said the phased rollout was already a compromise. “Initially, we were told the entire corridor would open together. Then it was split into two phases. Now, even the first phase is delayed. We can only hope this is the final postponement.”
