Pune metro line 3, Maan-Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar trains running regularly, only without passengers
Pune’s much-awaited Metro Line 3 has reached a rather unusual stage: trains are running on the Maan-Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar corridor, but commuters are still waiting for their turn to board.
The trains have completed extensive testing and the first phase has already received safety clearance. Yet, nearly a month after the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) authorised passenger operations, the public launch remains pending.
For commuters in Hinjewadi’s IT hub, the sight of Metro trains moving along the elevated corridor is therefore a reminder of what is ready, but not yet available to them.
Why are Pune Metro Line 3 trains running without passengers?
The movement of trains at this stage is part of the testing, commissioning and operational preparedness of the new corridor. The project has already undergone end-to-end trial runs across the route.
However, CMRS safety clearance is not the same as the public inauguration.
For the first phase, covering Maan to R K Laxman Museum in Balewadi, CMRS granted provisional authorisation for passenger operations on July 23. PMRDA subsequently approached the Chief Minister’s Office seeking a date for the official launch.
As of the latest reported update, PMRDA was still waiting for a response.
An official quoted by The Indian Express said preparations were being kept ready because the inauguration could be scheduled at short notice.
What is the status of Pune Metro Line 3?
Pune Metro Line 3 is a 23.203-km elevated corridor with 23 stations, connecting Maan in Hinjewadi with the city centre and the Shivajinagar-Civil Court area. It is being developed by Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) through Pune IT City Metro Rail Ltd.
The corridor is being implemented in phases.
The first phase covers the roughly 13-km stretch between Maan and R K Laxman Museum in Balewadi. The remaining section runs from Balewadi towards Shivajinagar.
The line is expected to provide a major alternative to road travel for employees of the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park and residents travelling between Hinjewadi, Wakad, Balewadi, Baner and central Pune.
When will passengers finally be allowed to travel?
That remains the main unanswered question.
Earlier announcements had set several target dates for opening the line, but they were missed. The first phase was expected to begin operations in July, while the extension towards Shivajinagar was targeted for August.
The safety hurdle for the first phase has since been cleared, but the official inauguration has not followed.
This means commuters can see the Metro infrastructure and trains largely ready for service, while the final step of opening the doors to paying passengers is still awaited.
Pune Metro Line 3 in numbers
- Route: Maan-Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar
- Total length: 23.203 km
- Stations: 23
- First phase: Maan to R K Laxman Museum, Balewadi
- First-phase stations: 12
- Status: Safety clearance received for first phase
- Passenger service: Awaiting official inauguration
- Expected travel time: Around 45 minutes between Hinjewadi and Shivajinagar, compared with much longer peak-hour road journeys.
A metro line ready, but commuters still waiting
The delay is particularly frustrating for thousands of Hinjewadi employees who face heavy traffic on the roads every day.
Once operational, Line 3 is expected to provide direct rapid-transit connectivity between Pune’s major IT hub and the city centre, while also allowing interchange with the existing Metro network.
For now, however, the picture remains unusual: Pune Metro Line 3 trains are moving, the first phase has safety clearance, but passengers are still waiting outside the gates.
Jayant Mahajan is a writer and contributor at PuneNow, covering the intersection of technology, climate action, and urban governance across Pune. With an extensive background in business management, digital transformation, and academia, Jayant brings real-world insight to local sustainability issues, from civic infrastructure to smart city data ethics. As an educator and founder of the Change Before Climate Change mission, he focuses on how Pune’s institutions and businesses can build future-ready, sustainable systems. Through his columns, Jayant bridges policy, technology, and practical action to help Punekars navigate a rapidly changing urban climate.
