PUNE: The operation of PMRDA‘s Metro Line 3 is likely to commence only by the end of this year, as the concessionaire has sought an extension till Sept for execution of the project.
With two coaches already in place, trial runs are expected to begin in Oct-Nov, following the completion of construction in Sept.
Officials stated that while the concessionaire’s request for timeline extension to Sept is still under consideration, it is unlikely that the project can be completed earlier than requested.
“Currently, 83-85% of work has been completed while the integrated flyover at University Chowk is expected to be completed by April,” said a senior official from PMRDA.
While efforts are underway to expedite the work, the last land parcel of Raj Bhavan is yet to be handed over and shifting of utilities in some areas is pending.
Officials said that coach trial runs can only begin after Sept and will need to run for approximately two months before regular operations can commence. “The trial runs usually take two to two-and-a-half months. It will all depend on the completion date. Once the date is set, the remaining timelines, too, will fall in place,” said the official.
The earlier target for completion of the third Metro line was March 2025.
The 23-km corridor has achieved 85% completion overall, while the crucial integrated flyover component, spanning from University Chowk to E-square junction, is still under construction with ramps being built on one side. “Construction of ramps and deck slabs are still pending at one end and the remaining are being executed,” a source close to the project stated. “The integrated flyover is a critical component. We cannot start operations without it.”
Earlier this year, deputy CM Ajit Pawar had conducted several reviews of the project and directed the concessionaire to expedite it. Officials cited heavy traffic along the busy route as a major hurdle in completing the flyover work despite regular review meetings to track progress.
The 23-km stretch will have 23 Metro stations, of which 12 are currently under construction. The entire project is being developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with a total project cost of Rs 8,313 crore.
