NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, the government sanctioned the expansion of the Pune Metro rail network with an investment of Rs 9,858 crore, as announced by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Line 4 (Kharadi-Hadapsar-Swargate-Khadakwasla) and Line 4A (Nal Stop-Warje-Manik Baug) as part of Phase-2 of the Pune Metro Rail Project.
This marks the second major project under Phase-2, following the approval of Line 2A (Vanaz-Chandani Chowk) and Line 2B (Ramwadi-Wagholi/Vitthalwadi).
With this update, the Pune Metro network will surpass the 100-km mark, a key advancement for the city’s push towards a modern, integrated, and sustainable urban transit system, according to government statements.
Lines 4 and 4A will cover a distance of 31.636 km with 28 elevated stations, linking IT hubs, commercial areas, educational institutions, and residential neighborhoods throughout East, South, and West Pune.
The project is expected to be completed within five years at an estimated cost of Rs 9,857.85 crore, co-funded by the Government of India, the Government of Maharashtra, and international funding partners.
As stated by the government, these lines are an essential part of Pune’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) and will integrate seamlessly with existing and planned corridors at Kharadi Bypass and Nal Stop (Line 2) and Swargate (Line 1).
They will provide an interchange at Hadapsar Railway Station, connecting future corridors towards Loni Kalbhor and Saswad Road, ensuring fluid multimodal connections across metro, rail, and bus networks.
According to estimates, daily ridership on the combined Line 4 and 4A is projected at 4.09 lakh by 2028, increasing to nearly 7 lakh by 2038, reaching 9.63 lakh in 2048, and over 11.7 lakh by 2058.
Specifically, the Kharadi-Khadakwasla route is expected to serve 3.23 lakh passengers in 2028, growing to 9.33 lakh by 2058, while the Nal Stop-Warje-Manik Baug spur line will increase from 85,555 to 2.41 lakh passengers over the same period.
These figures underscore the anticipated significant growth in ridership for Lines 4 and 4A in the upcoming decades.
The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro) will oversee the implementation of the project, handling all civil, electrical, mechanical, and system works.
Pre-construction activities, including topographical surveys and detailed design consultations, are already in progress.
