PUNE: The Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) is expected to clear a proposal for Maha Metro to execute extensions of the PMRDA Metro Line 3 from Shivajinagar to Loni Kalbhor, senior officials from the state’s urban development department told TOI on Friday.
Both the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) had submitted development plans for the same, and state govt had directed the latter to submit the proposal, which has now been forwarded to Centre.
Sources said Maha Metro will handle this project along with other Metro extensions across the city.
A source in Maha Metro added, “Centre is expected to fast-track the approval so state govt can call for tenders soon.” The project cost for the 31-km route extension will be shared by state and Central govts, said the source.
Currently, PMRDA, in partnership with the Tata Group on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis, is working on the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro Line 3, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Both the chief minister and deputy CM are expected to take a review meeting soon regarding timelines of the 23-km route.
Earlier, revised timelines for the integrated flyover at University Chowk and the whole route were discussed, with the multi-level flyover to be opened in June 2025 and the entire Metro line to be finished by Sept 2025.
As both PMRDA and Maha Metro submitted plans for the parallel lines, a decision was taken to consolidate efforts under one organisation during the Pune Urban Metropolitan Transport Authority (PUMTA) meeting under the Pune divisional commissioner, an official explained.
State govt had in an order issued in Oct last year — ahead of the assembly elections — asked Maha Metro to execute the Swargate to Loni Kalbhor and Saswad extensions.
PMRDA had initially submitted a feasibility report for extensions from Shivajinagar to Loni Kalbhor, connecting to Hadapsar, and also from Pulgate to Swargate. This, said officials, was an effort to connect the two IT hubs of Hinjewadi and Hadapsar. The Loni Kalbhor extension was also expected to help better connectivity to the upcoming Purandar airport.
Maha Metro officials told TOI that as state govt had already approved several routes, including the Khadakwasla to Swargate line and its extension to Hadapsar, and also a spur line from Hadapsar to Kharadi, the extension to Loni Kalbhor would also now be handled by them.
