The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has begun planning parking facilities at eight locations along the Pune Metro network to address the growing problem of commuters parking vehicles on roadsides and beneath Metro viaducts.

The authority has approached the respective municipal corporations seeking land for the proposed parking facilities. Work has already started at two of the eight identified locations, while the remaining six sites will be taken up subsequently, PMRDA commissioner Dr Abhijit Chaudhary said.

The parking problem has become increasingly evident since the Pimpri Chinchwad-Swargate Metro corridor became operational.

Many commuters travel to Metro stations in their private vehicles because feeder bus services connecting residential areas to stations are inadequate.

With limited designated parking, two-wheelers and cars are often left along roadsides and beneath Metro viaducts, adding to traffic congestion around stations. (Pune News)

Chaudhary said PMRDA is also working to improve last-mile connectivity to reduce commuters’ dependence on private vehicles.

The authority believes that organised parking facilities, combined with better public transport connectivity, will encourage more commuters to use the Metro and ease congestion around stations. However, PMRDA has not yet disclosed the names of the eight locations identified for the proposed parking facilities.

Parking shortages have been a longstanding concern across Pune’s Metro network. In January 2024, PMRDA had approached the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for land near stations on the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro line. At the time, only three of its 23 stations, Maan, Balewadi and Shivajinagar, had parking land.

In September 2025, PMC approved eight amenity spaces covering 13,051 square metres for the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar line, with two additional sites planned in PMRDA’s jurisdiction.

In March 2026, PMC also announced plans to develop parking facilities at 31 of the 34 amenity spaces located within 500 metres of Metro stations.

Maha Metro, which operates the two operational Metro corridors, has been offering paid parking at eight stations since 2023, including PCMC, Shivajinagar, Civil Court and Swargate. Despite these arrangements, commuters continue to report parking shortages at busy stations. (Pune News)

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