Pune: Ready for operations for over a month, the much-awaited first phase of the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 covering 12 stations may finally be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually before Sept 26, with state govt working to finalise the schedule.The Metro Rail Safety Commissioner (CMRS) cleared passenger operations on the first phase (nearly 8km Maan-Balewadi stretch) on July 23. “The 12 stations are ready and under continuous monitoring. Another review is scheduled for the end of this week. We are working to start services at the earliest. Based on current information, the PM is likely to inaugurate it online sometime in the first two weeks of Sept, though the date has not been confirmed,” PMRDA commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari said on Tuesday.Chaudhari said he was closely reviewing remaining last-minute work and would conduct a detailed review on Friday.The 23.3km Metro Line 3 corridor is being developed by Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA). Once the entire corridor is operational, it will connect Hinjewadi’s IT hub with Shivajinagar via Balewadi.Chaudhari said five additional stations were expected to undergo CMRS inspection soon. “If they receive approval, passenger services could begin on a longer stretch covering 17 stations. The remaining section towards Shivajinagar will open after securing the required safety clearances,” he said.Officials said Metro trains on the corridor were designed to run at speeds of up to 80kmph, and trial runs were under way. Anita Dutt, a regular traveller from Balewadi to Hinjewadi, said the launch was in waiting for months now.Shivajinagar MLA Siddharth Shirole inspected the project on Tuesday with officials from Tata, Siemens and the project engineering team. He said the 23-station corridor, which began construction in 2022, had entered its final phase. “The project will provide major relief to citizens who have faced traffic congestion at Pune’s entry points for several years,” Shirole said.PMRDA chief engineer Rinaj Pathan, who has been monitoring the work, said proposal for CMRS inspection of remaining five stations had been sent and CMRS nod was awaited.
