Pune Metro Line 3 Opening: Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Route to Launch in Phases from March End
The Puneri Metro (Line 3) is finally moving from trial tracks to commuter reality, promising to end the infamous “Hinjawadi crawl” for lakhs of IT professionals by late March 2026.
PMRDA Plans Phased Opening for Pune Metro Line 3
In a strategic move to provide immediate traffic relief to Pune’s congested IT corridor, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has confirmed that the Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 will open in phases.
Instead of waiting for the entire 23.3-km stretch to be 100% complete, authorities plan to operationalize fully finished stations starting March 31, 2026. This decision comes after the successful completion of full-corridor trial runs in mid-February, which saw the Alstom-built Metropolis trains traversing the distance from Maan Depot to the District Court interchange in Shivajinagar.
Trial Runs and Safety Clearances: The Final Countdown
The “Metro Line 3” has hit several high-speed milestones this month. Following the successful technical trials, PMRDA and the Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL), a Tata-Siemens consortium, have submitted the formal application to the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS).
Final inspections will focus on:
- Track Geometry and Power Supply: Ensuring the 750V DC third-rail system is stable across the elevated viaduct.
- Signaling Systems: Testing the integration of the automated signaling that will manage the 22 trainsets.
- Station Readiness: While 90-95% of civil work is finished, 11 of the 23 stations are undergoing last-mile interior and entry/exit completions.
Pune Metro Line 3 Station List and Route Map
The 23.3-km elevated corridor features 23 stations designed to bridge the gap between the city’s historic core and its tech future.
| Section | Key Stations | Status |
| Hinjawadi Hub | Megapolis Circle, Quadron, Wipro Phase 2, Shivaji Chowk | Operations-ready |
| Mid-Corridor | Wakad Chowk, Balewadi Stadium, Baner, Sakal Nagar | Final finishing |
| City Connection | University Chowk, Agriculture College, Shivajinagar, District Court | Nearing CMRS audit |
Impact on Pune Traffic: Relief at University Chowk
The phased launch is timed to coincide with major road infrastructure updates. The University Chowk double-decker flyover (Baner-side ramp) is expected to open within days, providing a temporary fix for Ganeshkhind Road. However, the long-term solution remains the Metro, which is projected to shift over 2.6 lakh daily passengers off the roads by 2027.
The interchange at District Court, Shivajinagar, will be the crown jewel of the project, allowing commuters to switch seamlessly between Line 3 and MahaMetro’s existing Purple (PCMC-Swargate) and Aqua (Vanaz-Ramwadi) lines.
