Pune Metro Line 3: Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Corridor Update

Pune's most-awaited infrastructure project, the Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Metro Line 3, is finally rounding the final bend after years of delays. 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%. This 23.3 km fully elevated corridor connects the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar in the heart of the city, and its completion is set to be a game-changer for the lakhs of tech professionals who commute through this stretch daily.

The project has had a rocky journey. The completion period for the Pune Metro Line-3 project was originally 40 months, with a scheduled end date of 25th March 2025. When that deadline slipped, the Metro Concessionaire submitted an Extension of Time proposal for 543 days on 25th February 2025, and following a joint meeting involving PMRDA, PITCMRL, the Independent Engineer, and the Senior Lender, it was decided to grant an extension up to 31st March 2026. Officials confirmed the revision publicly as well — PMRDA Commissioner Dr. Yogesh Mhase stated that "the committee has sanctioned the extension. The revised outer deadline for finishing the entire Metro Line 3 corridor is now March 2026."

Even as the March 2026 deadline came and went, momentum has clearly picked up. Officials inspecting the corridor found that the project, which missed its original March 2026 deadline, had reached 94.20 per cent completion. PMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Dr. Abhijit Chaudhari conducted an extensive inspection of the 23.2km elevated corridor, following directives from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to operate in mission mode, and he has issued strict instructions to contracting agencies to accelerate the pace whilst maintaining safety and construction quality standards.

On the technical front, the corridor has cleared several critical milestones. Trial runs were completed in January 2026 on a 19km stretch between Maan Depot and University Chowk, and by March 2026 the project had received 14 of the 22 planned trainsets at the Maan Depot, with the remaining coaches expected shortly. Signalling and safety clearances have also progressed, with advanced signalling systems and safety checks completed, including clearances from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation and the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety.

The accompanying road infrastructure that has held up the corridor is also nearing completion. The integrated double-decker flyover along Ganeshkhind Road, key to decongesting the area around the metro stations, is in progress, with currently 94% of the work completed. The ramps on the Shivajinagar and Aundh sides of the flyover were completed and opened for traffic on 20 August 2025, while the Baner ramp opened on 8 March 2026 for traffic, with the Pashan ramp work still in progress.

On the opening timeline, the state government has now committed to a phased rollout. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, speaking at the inauguration of Metro Bhavan at District Court metro station, said the 11-kilometre stretch of the Shivajinagar-Hinjewadi metro corridor will be inaugurated in May this year, while the remaining 12 kilometres are expected to be completed by July. This aligns with PMRDA's own phased plan confirming that 12 stations in the first phase are likely to open to the public by May 2026. Once fully operational, the line will offer a crucial interchange at District Court, Shivajinagar, allowing commuters to connect seamlessly with MahaMetro's existing Purple and Aqua lines.

For homebuyers and IT professionals eyeing Hinjewadi, Wakad, Baner, and Balewadi, this metro corridor is more than an infrastructure milestone — it's a real estate demand driver. Once operational, Pune Metro Line 3 will provide a direct, rail-based alternative to roads that currently remain gridlocked for hours, particularly across Baner, Balewadi, Wakad and Hinjawadi. With CM Fadnavis also announcing plans for a 200-kilometre metro network to be developed in Pune in the coming years, considering the city's rapid growth, connectivity along the IT corridor is only expected to strengthen further, keeping this stretch firmly on the radar for both end-users and investors tracking Pune's western suburbs.

Buyers evaluating homes near this corridor should track the phased station openings closely, since access to a live metro stop versus one still under construction can influence both livability and resale value in the short term. As construction winds down and trial runs give way to passenger operations, the Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar link is shaping up to be one of the most consequential transit upgrades for Pune's residential markets in recent years.