Pune Metro Phase 2: Piling Rigs Arrive on Satara Road as Swargate-Katraj Underground Work Hits High Gear
PUNE – In a major leap for South Pune’s infrastructure, the long-awaited groundwork for the Swargate-Katraj underground metro extension has officially commenced. Commuters on the busy Satara Road witnessed the arrival of heavy machinery this week, signaling the end of the planning phase and the start of physical construction for this critical 5.46 km corridor.
TBM Shaft Work Begins at Mukundnagar and Shankar Maharaj Math
The most significant development is the deployment of a heavy-duty piling rig near Shankar Maharaj Math and City Pride. This machinery is currently being used to construct the massive vertical shaft required to lower the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) into the earth.
Maha-Metro officials confirmed that barricading has been completed at strategic points along the route to ensure safety while allowing the contractor, ITD Cementation India, to operate. A second shaft is planned near Mukundnagar Chowk, as the project will utilize four TBMs, two starting from Swargate and two from Katraj, to expedite the twin-tunnel construction.
Swargate-Katraj Metro Station List & Route Details
The ₹3,637.6 crore project, an extension of the Purple Line (Line 1B), will be entirely subterranean. Following public demand and recent revisions, the corridor now features five underground stations:
- Market Yard (Gultekdi)
- Padmavati
- Bibwewadi (Recently added)
- Balaji Nagar (Recently added)
- Katraj
This alignment is designed to provide high-speed connectivity to major residential hubs and educational zones like Bharati Vidyapeeth, reducing the current 45-minute commute to just 12–15 minutes.
Timeline and Traffic Impact
While the actual tunnelling is slated to go full-scale by mid-March 2026, the current groundwork marks a point of no return for the project. Maha-Metro has set an ambitious target to complete the civil work by 2029, with the line becoming fully operational for the public by 2030.
Commuters are advised to expect minor traffic diversions on Satara Road as barricading expands near the station sites. However, officials have emphasized that since the line is underground, the long-term impact on surface traffic will be minimal compared to elevated corridors.
📍Swargate – Katraj Metro Groundwork Starts !
— DEVESH SHAH (@DEVESHS67071822) March 2, 2026
🔸As it's an underground line a shaft will be made to lower the TBM for tunnel making – Work on this shaft has started with a Piling Rig
🔸Barricading done near Shankar Maharaj Math & City Pride#Pune #PuneMetro pic.twitter.com/gzHKHEI7R7
New Fare Compliance Measures
In a related update, Pune Metro has officially shifted to a “closed-gate” policy at all operational stations starting today. Passengers must now scan their tickets or NCMC cards to both enter and exit, a move aimed at streamlining footfall as the network prepares for the massive influx of commuters from the Katraj extension.
