Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Metro line connecting Shivajinagar District Court and Swargate in Pune on Sunday (September 29) virtually. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation for the Swargate-Katraj Metro extension.
PM Modi also inaugurated the Solapur Airport today enhancing connectivity and making the city more accessible for tourists, business travelers, and investors. The airport’s terminal building has been upgraded to accommodate approximately 410,000 passengers each year.
PM Modi’s earlier planned visit to Pune was cancelled due to heavy rainfall, which affected preparations for the Metro corridor inauguration and the launch of several development projects, ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections.
Inauguration of Pune Metro’s District Court to Swargate segment
The Prime Minister inaugurated the Pune Metro section connecting the District Court to Swargate, signifying the completion of the Pune Metro Rail Project (Phase-1). The underground segment between these two points has an estimated cost of approximately Rs 1,810 crore.
The Maha Metro service from District Court Shivajinagar to Swargate will officially open to the public at 4 pm. The opening of the Shivajinagar-Swargate stretch will significantly benefit the residents of Pimpri-Chinchwad, as current commuting arrangements to the Swargate and Katraj areas can be quite challenging. However, some have raised concerns about the rationale behind the Prime Minister inaugurating the same project in segments for the sixth time.
Pune Metro’s Swargate-Katraj Extension
Additionally, PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for the Swargate-Katraj extension of Pune Metro Phase-1, which is set to be developed at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 2,955 crore. This southern extension will span about 5.46 km and will be entirely underground, featuring three stations: Market Yard, Padmavati, and Katraj.
PM Modi to unveil projects worth Rs 11,200 crore
Additionally, PM Modi laid the foundation stone, inaugurate, and dedicate several projects in Maharashtra valued at over Rs. 11,200 crore to the nation.
The project, developed under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, has significant potential to become a dynamic economic hub in the Marathwada region. The Centre has approved the initiative, which has a total estimated cost exceeding Rs 6,400 crore and will be executed in three phases.