Hinjewadi Metro Line 3 Faces Delay, Partial Service Likely in 2026 | Hinjawadi

Hinjewadi Metro Project Faces Delay Again, Partial Service Likely in 2026

Hinjewadi has grown fast over the last few years. Offices, homes, shops, and traffic have all increased together. Because of this growth, public transport has become very important for daily travel. The Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 was planned to reduce road pressure and save travel time. But even after years of work, the project is still not fully ready.

As per the latest update, the metro will not start on the full route by the earlier deadline. Instead, the administration is now discussing starting the metro service by skipping some stations that are not complete. This means people living or working in Hinjewadi may have to wait longer for full benefits.

What Is the Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Metro Line 3

The Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Metro, also known as Metro Line 3, is a 23.3 km long elevated corridor. It connects Maan and Hinjewadi IT Park with Shivajinagar, which is one of the busiest areas in Pune. This route is very important because thousands of employees travel daily between Hinjewadi and the city.

The project includes a total of 23 metro stations. Once fully operational, it will directly connect Hinjewadi with central Pune and link with existing metro lines through Civil Court station.

Original Deadline and What Changed Later

When the project was announced, the original deadline to complete the Hinjewadi metro was March 2025. Later, due to traffic pressure in Hinjewadi and growing public demand, a review meeting was held by the Chief Minister’s Office.

During that meeting, the Chief Minister instructed all departments to speed up work and start metro services by December 2025. A single-point authority was created, and responsibility was given to the divisional commissioner to reduce delays.

Even after these steps, the pace of work did not improve as expected.

Why the Hinjewadi Metro Is Delayed

The main reason for delay is not the metro track or bridges. Most of that work is already done. The real problems came from land acquisition issues, pending permissions, and delay in getting possession of certain sites.

In many locations, space-related issues slowed station work. Because of this, even after deadline extensions, around 9 percent of the total project work is still pending.

Due to slow progress, the metro administration was also issued notices asking them to improve work speed. Despite this, the December 2025 deadline could not be met.

Current Status of Work on Hinjewadi Metro

According to PMRDA, more than 91 percent of the Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Metro project is complete. Metro bridges, pillars, and tracks are already finished across the route. Two metro train sets have also arrived and trial runs at different speeds have been successfully completed.

The civil structure is almost ready. However, station-related work is where delays are still visible.

11 Out of 23 Stations Still Incomplete

Out of the total 23 stations on the Hinjewadi metro route, work at 11 stations is still incomplete. These stations are missing basic passenger facilities.

Incomplete work includes escalators, waiting areas, parking spaces, and some access points. Without these facilities, it is not safe or practical to open those stations for public use.

Because of this, the administration is now considering starting metro services without stopping at these incomplete stations.

Partial Metro Service Plan Explained

The administration is discussing the option of starting metro operations by skipping stations where work is not complete. The idea is to begin metro movement on the completed sections so that people can start using the service while remaining work continues.

Once the metro starts running, the remaining stations can be completed parallelly. This approach is being considered to avoid further delay and public disappointment.

However, this also means that the metro will not run at full capacity during the initial phase.

New Deadline for Full Completion

After reviewing the situation, the project has been given an extension of 543 days. The new final deadline for completing the entire Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 is set as 31 March 2026.

Officials say that work speed has improved in recent months and that final-stage activities are now moving faster. Still, full operation across all stations will only be possible after all station facilities are completed.

Role of PMRDA in the Hinjewadi Metro Project

The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) is managing this project. It is considered one of PMRDA’s most important infrastructure projects.

The Hinjewadi metro is being developed under the public-private partnership model. The total cost of the project is around ₹8,312 crore. Construction work officially started on 25 November 2021.

PMRDA maintains that the project is nearing completion and that metro services will start soon, even if not on the full route initially.

Why This Metro Is Important for Hinjewadi

Hinjewadi is known for Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, which houses major IT companies. Every day, thousands of employees travel to and from this area. Traffic jams during peak hours have become a daily problem.

The Hinjewadi metro is expected to reduce road traffic, save fuel, and cut travel time. It will also improve connectivity between Hinjewadi and central Pune.

Without the metro, road expansion alone cannot solve traffic issues in this fast-growing area.

Connectivity With Other Metro Lines

Metro Line 3 will connect with Pune Metro Line 1 and Line 2 at Civil Court station. A skywalk is planned to allow easy interchange between these lines.

This integration will allow passengers from Hinjewadi to travel smoothly to areas like Pimpri, Chinchwad, and Swargate without changing transport modes multiple times.

Table: Current Status of Hinjewadi Metro Line 3

Details	Information
Route	Maan–Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar
Total Length	23.3 km
Total Stations	23
Stations Incomplete	11
Work Completed	Over 91%
Original Deadline	March 2025
Revised Deadline	December 2025
Final Deadline	31 March 2026
Project Cost	₹8,312 crore
Managing Authority	PMRDA

What Commuters Should Expect in 2026

If the partial operation plan is approved, people may see metro trains running in early 2026, but with limited stops. This will help reduce traffic pressure slightly, but full benefits will come only after all stations are functional.

Passengers should also expect initial crowd management measures and limited parking at certain stations until all facilities are ready.

Public Reaction and Expectations

People working in Hinjewadi have been waiting for this metro for years. Every delay adds to daily travel stress. While partial service is better than no service, many commuters are hoping that station work is completed as fast as possible.

Clear communication from authorities will be important so that people know which stations are operational and which are not.

FAQs About Hinjewadi Metro Delay

When will Hinjewadi Metro start?

The metro may start partial operations in early 2026. Full service across all stations is expected by March 2026.

Why is the Hinjewadi metro delayed?

Delays happened due to land acquisition issues, pending permissions, and slow station construction work.

Will all stations open together?

No. Some stations may be skipped initially as work at 11 stations is still incomplete.

Is the metro track work completed?

Yes. Track, bridges, and pillars are completed. Delays are mainly related to station facilities.

Who is responsible for the project?

The project is managed by PMRDA under a public-private partnership model.

Will the metro connect to other Pune metro lines?

Yes. It will connect with Line 1 and Line 2 at Civil Court station through a skywalk.

The Hinjewadi Metro Project is close to completion but still needs careful execution in its final stage. Starting partial service may help reduce traffic stress, but long-term relief depends on completing all stations properly.

Hinjewadi continues to grow, and reliable public transport is no longer optional. Timely completion of the metro will play a major role in shaping daily life for thousands of commuters.

For now, people will need to stay patient for a few more months as the city moves closer to a working metro connection for Hinjewadi.

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