Baner, 18th January 2026: The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has successfully conducted trial runs on a 19-kilometre stretch of the upcoming Metro corridor between Man and Savitribai Phule Pune University Chowk (Acharya Anand Rishiji Chowk), bringing the city closer to opening its third Metro route for public use.
Authorities are now aiming to complete the remaining work by the end of March, after which the ShivajinagarтАУHinjawadi corridor is expected to be opened for passengers.
The MaanтАУHinjawadi to Shivajinagar Metro line spans a total length of 23 kilometres and is being developed as a fully elevated corridor. Work on the project began in November 2011. While most of the construction has been completed, finishing touches are still underway at a few stations.
Over the past week, PMRDA carried out successful trial operations on 19 kilometres of the route. Only about five kilometres of work now remains, which officials say will be completed by the end of March 2026.
Once operational, the corridor will become PuneтАЩs third Metro route and is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion on the BanerтАУHinjawadi road, one of the cityтАЩs most crowded stretches. For years, commuters have spent hours stuck in traffic while travelling to and from Hinjawadi, a major IT and employment hub. The Metro is expected to reduce travel time, cut fuel consumption, and offer a reliable public transport option for thousands of daily commuters.
PMRDA officials said that except for a few stations, the entire route is likely to be opened for passengers by the end of March. After that, the long-awaited Man to Hinjawadi Metro service will finally begin, ending the wait for thousands of people who travel to Hinjawadi for work every day.
As part of the Metro project, the double-decker flyover at Acharya Anand Rishiji Chowk is also nearing completion. The first level of the structure will carry regular vehicular traffic, while the upper level will support the Metro tracks. The Aundh-to-Shivajinagar side of the flyover has already been opened for traffic, providing some relief from congestion in that direction.
However, work is still underway on the Baner and Pashan sides of the project. While commuters travelling from Aundh to Shivajinagar are benefiting from the partially opened flyover, those heading in the opposite directionтАФfrom Shivajinagar towards Aundh, Baner, and PashanтАФwill have to wait a little longer for full relief.
With successful trial runs now completed on most of the route, Pune is set to take another major step in strengthening its public transport network and easing daily traffic woes, especially on the busy Hinjawadi corridor.
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