Pune Metro Line 3 Opening Gets Delayed Again as Model Code of Conduct Comes Into Force
Pune: The opening of Pune Metro Line 3 between Hinjawadi and Shivajinagar may be delayed again after the model code of conduct came into force for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections. The poll code will remain in force through October in the constituencies concerned.
The long-awaited Metro Line 3 will connect Hinjawadi, including the IT hub, with Shivajinagar. The service is expected to provide another commuting option for IT professionals currently travelling by road.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced elections to Legislative Council seats in four states, including Maharashtra, for Graduates’ and Teachers’ constituencies.
Five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats falling vacant in December will go to polls. These include the Pune Division Graduates’ constituency and Pune Division Teachers’ constituency. The other three seats are from the Amravati, Aurangabad and Nagpur divisions.
“The model code of conduct for legislative council seats will come into force with immediate effect in the concerned constituencies,” Suman Kumar Das, Secretary, ECI, said in the election notification.
🚇Trains running on Pune Metro Line 3 (Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar) but no passengers 🙁
— PuneNow (@itspunenow) September 22, 2026
Launch may further get delayed as Model Code of Conduct comes in force due to Legislative Council Elections in Pune.
Elections get over only by October 27.
So no hopes till then 🙁#Pune pic.twitter.com/KdIxGsKM2g
Metro Line 3, being developed by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), has already faced several delays in starting passenger services. Earlier, pending clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) was cited as the reason.
The CMRS approval was received in July, but the line has not yet opened to the public. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to inaugurate the line and the event would depend on getting an appointment.
According to the report, PMRDA is ready to begin operations on Metro Line 3, with 12 stations completed. However, with the model code of conduct now in force, the inauguration will have to wait until the elections in Pune are over.
PMRDA has now decided to complete work on five more stations so they can be inaugurated along with the 12 stations originally planned for Phase 1.
Metro Line 3 has 23 stations in all. It will integrate with Pune Metro’s two operational corridors, PCMC to Swargate and Vanaz to Ramwadi.
