Pune Metro’s underground rail service, running from Civil Court to Swargate, is expected to start operations in September, The Indian Express reported. The work on the rail service will likely be completed by August end.
Pune Metro executive director Hemant Sonawane told IE that the trial runs on the two lines of the underground rail service have been completed successfully, adding that the railway safety team will be visiting after the work is completed in August to give its consent to start operations.
He added that the railway safety team will visit after the completion of work in August to give its consent to start operations. The initial deadline for commencing operations from Civil Court to Swargate was March 31. However, it was extended due to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Pune Metro Phase 1 completion
Once the underground service starts, it would mark the completion of Phase 1 of the Pune Metro project from Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to Swargate and Vanaz to Ramwadi. The route between Vanaz to Ramwadi is fully operational, meanwhile, the PCMC to Civil Court route is partly functional, except for the underground stretch.
Sonawane stated that Pune Metro had initiated work on extending the route from PCMC to Nigdi as part of Phase I. The Centre’s decision on extending the route from Swargate to Katraj is still pending. Additionally, the proposal for Phase II of Pune Metro had been submitted to the Maharashtra government for approval. Once approved, it would be forwarded to the Centre.