Pune Metro Line 3: Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Corridor Nears Finish Line
Pune's most awaited infrastructure story is finally coming together. The Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar stretch of Pune Metro Line 3 — the elevated corridor that will link the city's biggest IT employment hub to the heart of central Pune — is in its final phase of testing and commissioning, with commuters set to get relief from years of gridlocked commutes.
According to the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), by the end of March 2026 the physical work of the project is about 94.58% and the financial progress is 97.40%. Officials tracking the project note that construction of tracks and major structures has largely been completed, with work now focused on station buildings, platforms, access roads and passenger amenities, with 11 of the 23 planned stations still requiring completion of essential facilities.
The rolling stock and safety trials are also well advanced. Reports indicate more than 10 train sets have already been delivered, with a total fleet of 22 expected soon, making the project technically ready pending final safety clearances. A key technical milestone was cleared earlier this year when an important trial run was conducted on 8 January between Maan Depot and University Chowk. During that exercise, engineers closely examined track geometry, power supply systems, braking efficiency, coach stability and train behaviour on curves.
On the ground, allied infrastructure is opening up in parallel. The Ganeshkhind Road flyover — built to keep traffic moving during metro construction — has progressively opened lanes, with ramps on the Shivajinagar and Aundh sides completed and opened for traffic on 20 August 2025, and the Baner ramp opening on 8 March 2026.
What does this mean for the timeline homebuyers should track? Multiple reports now converge on a phased launch. The corridor is now in its last phase and is likely to open for public use by the end of May 2026. Wikipedia's tracker on the line similarly notes the project is set to be completed in July 2026 with a first stretch to be open in May 2026, though future updates show 15 June 2026 as the opening date, with some stations possibly opening only in October 2026. In its initial rollout, 12 stations are expected to open, enhancing links between the city's IT hub and its central districts.
For context on scale: the line stretches over approximately 23.3 km and is being developed as an entirely elevated corridor under a Public Private Partnership involving PMRDA, the Tata Group and Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited. It's a structurally significant deal too — the corridor is being developed as India's first metro project under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Why should homebuyers care? The Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar belt is one of Pune's densest office and residential catchments, and daily gridlock has long been a pain point. The elevated metro line is expected to bring major relief to thousands of IT professionals who currently endure long and congested commutes along Ganeshkhind Road, offering a faster, dependable alternative to road travel while easing pressure on Pune's overstretched traffic network. Urban planners tracking the corridor add that the metro will help decongest roads while improving connectivity across major employment and residential zones, and promote sustainable mobility by reducing dependence on private vehicles and lowering carbon emissions.
For anyone evaluating a home along the Hinjewadi–Baner–Aundh–Shivajinagar stretch, this metro corridor is the single biggest connectivity catalyst the micro-market has seen in years — and it's arriving right when Pune's western suburbs are seeing fresh residential launches from both established and new-to-market developers.
