Pune: As residents await an inauguration date from the Prime Minister’s Office for the first operational stretch of Metro Line 3, PMRDA expects safety clearance for five additional stations next week.Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has submitted a proposal to the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) for the inspection of stations near NCL, Sakalnagar, SPPU Junction, Agricultural College flyover and district court. “If approved, PMRDA will be ready to operate 17 stations on the 23.3km Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar corridor, up from the 12 stations between Maan and Balewadi that received CMRS clearance on July 23,” a senior PMRDA official said.Passenger services cannot begin till the corridor is formally inaugurated. “The PMO is yet to communicate a launch date to the chief minister’s office,” the official said.According to PMRDA, opening 17 stations would significantly enhance connectivity, offering more access points and better integration with the existing Maha Metro network. Commuters from areas like Kothrud would be able to interchange at Shivajinagar and travel towards Hinjewadi, improving connectivity to the city’s IT hub and potentially boosting ridership.Commuters voiced frustration over the delay in the inauguration of the first phase of the project. “Why should a partial opening wait for so many formalities?” asked an IT professional, a regular commuter between Baner and Hinjewadi. Another commuter said the chief minister could have inaugurated the stretch instead of waiting for the Prime Minister.The remaining stations towards Shivajinagar will open after receiving the necessary safety clearances.Developed by PMRDA under a public-private partnership model, the 23.3km Metro Line 3 will connect Hinjewadi and Shivajinagar via Balewadi. Trains on the corridor are designed to run at speeds of up to 80kmph, with trial runs currently underway.
