For Pune’s IT professionals and daily commuters who have spent years crawling through traffic between Hinjawadi and Shivajinagar, a long-awaited milestone may finally be within sight. Pune Metro Line 3, popularly known as the Puneri Metro, has successfully completed end-to-end trial runs across its entire 23-kilometre corridor, moving a step closer to commercial operations.

Pune, June 18, 2026: Pune Metro Line 3, the metro corridor connecting Hinjawadi’s sprawling IT hub with Shivajinagar, has entered the final stages before passenger services begin. Project authorities announced that end-to-end trial runs across the entire elevated corridor have been successfully completed, marking one of the most significant milestones since construction began.

The first phase of operations will cover a 13.3-kilometre stretch between Maan and R. K. Laxman Museum, with 12 stations. According to project officials, this section is ready for opening subject to the required statutory approvals.

For residents of Hinjawadi, Wakad, Balewadi, Baner and surrounding areas, the development signals a major shift in how people may travel across one of Pune’s most congested corridors.

Major Construction and System Works Completed

Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL), the company implementing the project, said all key infrastructure works across the corridor have now been completed.

The entire viaduct spanning the 23-kilometre route is ready, all 23 station structures have been constructed, and station finishing works are progressing rapidly. Track installation, third-rail electrification and signalling systems have also been completed throughout the corridor.

The metro’s rolling stock has successfully undergone RDSO oscillation trials and has received approvals from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) and the Ministry of Railways for operations at speeds of up to 85 kmph.

The successful end-to-end trial runs are considered one of the final technical validations before passenger operations can commence.

First Phase to Open Before Full Corridor

Rather than opening the entire route at once, authorities have opted for a phased rollout.

The first operational section will run from Maan to R. K. Laxman Museum and is expected to be opened once all regulatory clearances are received.

In the next phase, services will be extended up to District Court station. This extension will be particularly important as it will enable integration with the existing Maha Metro network, allowing passengers to switch seamlessly between metro corridors.

A Potential Game-Changer for Hinjawadi Commuters

Perhaps the most anticipated benefit of Metro Line 3 is the significant reduction in travel time.

Today, travelling between Shivajinagar and Hinjawadi during peak hours can easily take 90 minutes or more. Once the entire corridor becomes operational, that journey is expected to be reduced to around 45 minutes.

For thousands of IT employees working in Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, along with students and residents travelling daily along the route, the metro could become a viable alternative to road transport.

The corridor is also expected to ease pressure on the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway and internal roads in Baner, Balewadi, Wakad and Hinjawadi, which routinely experience heavy congestion during office hours.

Metro to be Operated by Women Train Operators

One of the project’s more distinctive features is its focus on gender inclusion.

Keolis, the operations and maintenance partner for Metro Line 3, has recruited nearly 100 women train operators who will operate the metro services. Officials describe the initiative as one of the largest all-women train operator programmes undertaken for an urban transport project in India.

Technology and Sustainability Focus

Metro Line 3 has been equipped with modern metro rail technologies, including Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling, smart ticketing systems and locally manufactured rolling stock under the Make in India initiative.

The project also incorporates several sustainability measures, including rooftop solar installations, rainwater harvesting systems, EV charging facilities, waste management initiatives and provisions for last-mile connectivity.

What Comes Next?

While the successful trial runs indicate that the project is nearing completion, passenger services can begin only after receiving the final statutory approvals from the relevant authorities.

For Pune, and particularly for Hinjawadi’s vast workforce, the countdown appears to have entered its final stage.

After years of construction, traffic diversions and anticipation, Metro Line 3 is now closer than ever to transforming daily travel between Pune’s city centre and its largest IT hub. Whether it delivers the promised reduction in travel time and road congestion will become clear once the first passengers step aboard in the coming weeks.