The Central government today approved the underground extension of Pune’s existing PCMC-Swargate metro line from Swargate to Katra.
The approval came in a Cabinet meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The new Line-l B extension will cover 5.46 km, featuring three underground stations that will connect important areas like Market Yard, Bibwewadi, Balaji Nagar, and the Katraj suburbs.
The line will be constructed by Maha-Metro.
“The project, aimed at providing seamless connectivity in Pune, is set to be completed by February, 2029. The estimated cost of the project is Rs.2954.53 crore, with funding to be equally shared by the Union and state governments along with contributions from bilateral agencies,” a press release stated.
According to the statement, this extension will connect with the Swargate Multimodal Hub, which comprises the metro station, MSRTC bus stand, and PMPML bus stand, offering seamless connectivity for commuters both within Pune city and beyond.
This extension will improve connectivity across different parts of the city through the District Court interchange station and play a crucial role in easing road traffic congestion.
The statement further said, “The new corridor will link various bus stops, railway stations, recreational centres like the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Taljai hillock (tekdi), malls, etc., various residential areas, educational institutions, colleges, and major business hubs.”
The daily ridership on the Swargate-Katraj Line for 2027, 2037, 2047 and 2057 is expected to be 95,000, 1.58 lakh, 1.87 lakh and 1.97 lakh passengers, respectively.
(With PTI inputs)