Pune Metro Update: Maha-Metro plans additional station at Balaji Nagar on Swargate-Katraj underground route

Due to requests from elected representatives and the public, the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MAHA-METRO) has requested approval from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to construct an additional Metro station at Balaji Nagar along the Swargate-Katraj underground route.

In a proposal presented to the civic standing committee, Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale informed that Maha-Metro has sought approval for the construction of the new metro station at Balaji Nagar. However, the PMC has been advised to grant approval with the condition that the project incurs no additional cost to the civic body.

Additional stations on Swargate-Katraj underground line

Maha-Metro, a joint venture between the central and state governments, has requested the PMC to give in-principle approval for the additional stations on the Swargate-Katraj Underground Extension Line. According to a report in The Indian Express, the extension line, which was sanctioned by the PMC in 2021, spans 5.463 km and includes three underground stations, with a total project cost of Rs 2,954.53 crore. The project is being implemented by Maha-Metro.

“Maha-Metro has received several requests from elected and public representatives of Pune for providing an additional underground station near Balaji Nagar which would increase ridership of this line and also serve residents of Balaji Nagar, Dhankawadi and Bibvewadi,” said Shravan Hardikar, Managing Director of Maha-Metro.

Market Yard, Padmavati, Katraj to be key metro stops

According to the approved Detailed Project Report (DPR), the Swargate-Katraj Metro extension will include three underground stations: Market Yard, Padmavati, and Katraj.

“The average inter-station distance for this extension corridor is approximately 1.9 km. To maintain the inter-station distance as per Metro standards, it is required to bring this distance to around 1 to 1.5 km. For this purpose, four underground stations have to be accommodated,” he said.

Given the growing ridership and ongoing developments in the area, Hardikar emphasised that the addition of the fourth station at Balaji Nagar is fully justifiable. After thorough technical scrutiny by Maha-Metro, the station has been deemed feasible. 

He also pointed out that a similar situation arose with the PCMC-Nigdi extension line, where a fourth station was added after the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) general body passed a resolution.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the underground route from Swargate to Katraj. Meanwhile, the first phase of the Metro rail, connecting PCMC to Swargate and Vanaz to Ramwadi, has already been operationalised in phases.