State Clears Major Funding for Pune Metro Stations, Mumbai Airport Road Link and Nagpur Metro Expansion
In a major push to transform the state’s urban infrastructure, the Maharashtra government announced a series of key decisions on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025. The cabinet has greenlit significant funding and approvals for new metro lines, railway corridors, and a crucial airport link, focusing heavily on the bustling hubs of Pune, Mumbai, and Nagpur.
One of the standout decisions is the approval of two brand new metro stations in Pune. The stations at Balajinagar and Bibvewadi will be added to the busy Swargate to Katraj metro line. In a related move, the existing Katraj metro station itself will be shifted approximately 421 meters south to accommodate this expansion. The government has allocated a budget of ₹683.11 crores specifically for this project.
But that’s not all for Pune’s commuters. The cabinet has also committed to funding the third and fourth railway lines for the busy Pune-Lonavala local train corridor. Taking a page from the successful Mumbai Urban Transport Project, the state government has agreed to shoulder the financial responsibility for this expansion, which is expected to drastically reduce travel time and congestion.
For the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, a key decision was made to develop an advanced high-speed road link connecting Thane to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport. This project will be developed on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and will be executed through CIDCO, the state’s planning and development authority.
Finally, in a move that ensures ongoing projects stay on track, the cabinet has approved the state’s guarantee for loans needed for several other metro projects. This financial backing covers the Thane Circular Metro, the extended lines of Pune Metro’s Line 2 and Line 4, and the second phase of the Nagpur Metro. This guarantee is a crucial step in securing the necessary funds to complete these large-scale public transport networks.
