The Pune Metro project is set to make significant strides with the approval of its extension from Pimpri to Bhakti-Shakti Chowk in Nigdi. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has given the green light to this crucial extension, marking a substantial enhancement to Pune’s transportation infrastructure.
This ambitious undertaking is being executed in phases, with the initial 7.9 km route from Pimpri to Dapodi commencing on August 1, 2023. Subsequently, the Pimpri to Phugewadi route was initiated on March 6, 2022. The demand for extending the metro line to Nigdi has been met with consistent advocacy and public demonstrations. Finally, the state government has granted its approval for the extension, which had been awaiting the central government’s nod for two years.
The eagerly awaited approval was conveyed in a letter from Sunil Kumar, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, signifying the official sanction of the Metro project’s extension to Nigdi. This decision clears the path for the metro to reach Nigdi, an area eagerly awaiting this development.
The extended metro route from Pimpri to Nigdi will encompass three key stations: Pimpri Police Station at Chinchwad Station, Khandoba Maal Chowk at Akurdi, and Bhakti-Shakti Chowk at Nigdi. Covering a distance of 4.13 km, this new corridor will be elevated, with costs shared equally between the Central Government and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. The estimated project cost is Rs. 910.18 crore, and it will provide metro passenger service along the primary line, connecting Nigdi to Dapodi over a distance of 12.50 km.
Member of Parliament, Shrirang Barne, emphasized, “The city’s population is on the rise, and the realization of the dream to extend the metro up to Nigdi is imminent. This metro project will play a pivotal role in alleviating traffic congestion and enhancing connectivity for the residents of Pimpri-Chinchwad. The project’s execution is set to begin shortly.”
