Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has given the go-ahead for new metro rail lines from Hadapsar to Loni Kalbhor and Hadapsar to Saswad as part of a bid to strengthen the city's public transport system. The project will cost around ₹5,704 crore.

The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (Maha-Metro) had prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for these corridors, which was approved by PMC on the condition that it will not offer a financial guarantee for repayment of the loan. PMC, however, will bear the cost of ₹3.6 crore for land acquisition, Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale reported as per sakal media.

According to the DPR:

Hadapsar–Loni Kalbhor corridor will be 11.35 km long with ten stations.

Hadapsar–Saswad corridor will span 5.57 km with four stops.

The cost of the project totalling ₹4,686 crore will be met with 20% funding from state and central governments and 60% from loan mobilisation.

Metro Director Atul Gadgil pointed out that these new lines are spur lines of the already sanctioned Kharadi–Hadapsar and Swargate–Khadakwasla corridors. He emphasized the need for the DPR to be approved at the earliest at the state level.

The DPR, which was submitted in May 2023, was postponed because PMC insisted that Maha-Metro consult the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) since there was overlapping work on infrastructure projects. These issues have since been resolved by Maha-Metro.

Metro Station Information:

Hadapsar–Loni Kalbhor Line: Hadapsar Phata, Hadapsar Bus Depot, Akashwani-Hadapsar, Laxmi Colony, Stad Farm, Manjari Phata, Draksha Baug, Toll Naka, Wak Vasti, and Loni Kalbhor.

Hadapsar–Saswad Line: Hadapsar Bus Depot, Hadapsar Gliding Club, Fursungi IT Park, Sulabh Garden, and Saswad Road Railway Station.

This approval marks an important step for Pune in the development of its metro system and the enhancement of public transport.