IndiaPosted at: Nov 3 2026 1:35PM


PM Modi unveils Pune Metro Pink Line, clears Rs 13,500-cr expansion plan

New Delhi, Nov 3 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated Pune Metro's 23-km Line 3, popularly known as the Pink Line, and laid the foundation stone for four additional corridors under Phase-II, taking the total investment in the city's Metro expansion to around Rs 21,800 crore.
The twin initiatives mark a major push to strengthen public transport in Pune, one of Maharashtra's fastest-growing technology, industrial and commercial centres.
Inaugurating the projects through video conferencing, Modi said improved Metro connectivity would accelerate Pune's economic growth, ease the daily commute of residents and enhance the quality of urban life. The inauguration of Line 3, built at a cost of more than Rs 8,300 crore, was accompanied by the launch of the second phase of expansion, involving an estimated investment of Rs 13,500 crore.
"A better-connected Pune is a faster-growing Pune! New Metro projects will boost the city's growth and improve Ease of Living," the Prime Minister said, stressing that modern transport infrastructure was essential to support the expanding economic activities of India's urban centres.
Describing Pune as a major hub of technology, manufacturing and innovation, Modi said the city had become a destination of aspirations for young Indians seeking professional opportunities. "IT, automobile, pharma, startups... from innovation to manufacturing, Pune is a place of dreams and aspirations for the country's youth," he said, adding that enhanced Metro connectivity would provide fresh momentum to its development.
The Prime Minister also called for a broader urban development strategy, arguing that economic growth should not remain concentrated in major metropolitan centres. "Our cities are not merely places to live. They are also major centres of economic activity. We must develop hundreds of smaller cities across the country as growth hubs," he said.
The inauguration of the Pink Line is particularly important for Pune's substantial IT workforce as it connects Hinjewadi, one of the city's largest technology and employment hubs, with Shivajinagar, a major administrative, commercial and transport centre. Running approximately 23 kilometres from Maan to District Court Metro station, the corridor is expected to facilitate the daily movement of thousands of professionals and other commuters.
Its integration with the existing Metro network at the District Court interchange will allow passengers to access several parts of the city through a connected public transport system. The corridor is expected to ease congestion on some of Pune's busiest roads, reduce commuting time and encourage greater reliance on mass transit instead of private vehicles, with potential environmental benefits through lower vehicular emissions.
The Pink Line also has a significant gender-inclusion component, as it will be operated entirely by women train operators. In another green initiative, around 30 per cent of its electricity requirements are envisaged to be met through solar power. Passenger services are scheduled to commence on November 4, initially covering 17 of the corridor's 23 stations, with the remaining stations expected to become operational in phases.
Alongside the inauguration, Modi laid the foundation stone for four new corridors under Phase-II of the Pune Metro network — Lines 2A, 2B, 4 and 4A — which will extend connectivity to several rapidly developing residential, commercial and industrial neighbourhoods.
Lines 2A and 2B will together cover approximately 12.75 kilometres. Line 2A will connect Vanaz with Chandani Chowk, while Line 2B will extend from Ramwadi to Vitthalwadi, strengthening east-west connectivity and improving access to Pune's expanding eastern suburbs.
The 25.52-km Line 4 will connect Kharadi with Khadakwasla, passing through important residential and commercial areas, while Line 4A, extending 6.12 kilometres, will link Nal Stop with Manik Baug.
The four corridors are expected to bring key locations, including Kharadi, Magarpatta, Hadapsar, Swargate, Manik Baug, Nanded City, Pune Cantonment and Warje, within an expanded Metro network. The Ramwadi-Vitthalwadi extension is expected to be particularly beneficial for the fast-growing Kharadi and Wagholi areas, where the expansion of the IT and services sectors has generated increasing demand for reliable public transport.
The expansion plan also envisages integration with the existing Metro network and intercity bus services through interchange facilities at Swargate, Nal Stop and Kharadi Bypass. The objective is to facilitate seamless transfers between different modes of public transportation and improve connectivity within Pune as well as with destinations beyond the city.
Pune's rapid urbanisation, expanding industrial base, growing technology sector and rising population have placed mounting pressure on its road infrastructure. The concentration of employment opportunities in major commercial and IT hubs, coupled with increasing private vehicle ownership, has contributed to traffic congestion and longer commuting times. The enlarged Metro network is intended to provide a more extensive and dependable mass rapid transit alternative.
Beyond the infrastructure announcements, Modi used the occasion to highlight the government's economic and welfare priorities, asserting that India was simultaneously the world's fastest-growing major economy and among the fastest in reducing poverty. "Today, India is a country which is the fastest-growing economy and is also the fastest in reducing poverty," he said.
He alleged that corruption and nepotism in the past had prevented poor people from receiving the benefits of development and maintained that his government's emphasis was on ensuring that welfare schemes and development initiatives reached their intended beneficiaries.
Reflecting on his years in public life, Modi said he felt honoured to have had the opportunity to serve the country for 25 years. He also highlighted the benefits accruing to farmers under BJP governments and assured cultivators in Maharashtra that the government stood firmly with them.
Referring to the challenging international economic environment, the Prime Minister said India was continuing to make progress despite global uncertainties and prevailing economic gloom.
The Rs 21,800-crore initiative represents a substantial addition to Pune's urban transport infrastructure at a time when the city's economic expansion is increasingly constrained by congestion and growing mobility requirements. With the Pink Line entering the operational phase and work on four more corridors set to begin, the Metro network is expected to connect major employment centres, residential neighbourhoods, commercial districts and transport hubs more comprehensively.
However, the long-term impact of the ambitious expansion will depend not merely on the construction of additional corridors but also on timely execution, effective integration between routes, dependable operations and affordable fares. Making Metro travel a convenient and accessible option for a wider section of Pune's population will be crucial to reducing dependence on private vehicles and ensuring that the investment delivers lasting improvements in urban mobility. UNI SKA AAB
Tags: #PM Modi unveils Pune Metro Pink Line# clears Rs 13#500-cr expansion plan
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