Passenger services on Pune Metro Line 3, popularly known as the Pink Line, are scheduled to begin at 6 am on Wednesday, November 4, bringing a major public transport connection between the Hinjawadi IT hub and Shivajinagar into operation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 23.2-kilometre elevated corridor on November 3. The project has been developed at a cost of approximately ₹8,313 crore and is designed to improve connectivity between Maan, Hinjawadi and central Pune.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Passenger services begin on Pune Metro Line 3, also known as the Pink Line.
Location: India.
Authority/Organisation: Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited.
Action Taken: The 23.2-kilometre elevated corridor has been inaugurated, with passenger operations starting at 17 stations.
Impact: The line is expected to improve access to the Hinjawadi IT hub, reduce road congestion and strengthen public transport connectivity.
The corridor has 23 stations, but passenger services will initially operate at 17 stations. The remaining six stations are expected to open in phases as the pending work is completed. Authorities have indicated that two of the stations could be ready by the end of November 2026, while the remaining four are expected to be completed by January 2027.
The new line passes through the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjawadi, one of the country's major IT and employment centres. It is expected to provide an alternative to road travel for thousands of IT professionals, students and other daily commuters who regularly face traffic congestion on routes connecting Hinjawadi with the city.
The service frequency is planned at approximately six minutes during peak hours and 12 minutes during non-peak hours. The first train is scheduled to depart from Maan-Hinjawadi at 6 am, while the last train from that end is scheduled for 10:30 pm. From Shivajinagar, the first train is scheduled at 6 am and the last at 11:40 pm.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The new corridor addresses a long-standing transport challenge for people travelling between Hinjawadi's IT and commercial areas and central Pune. A dependable Metro connection could reduce pressure on busy roads, make daily commuting more predictable and improve access to employment centres. The project also highlights the role of public-private partnerships in developing urban transport infrastructure. Its all-women train operating team and planned use of solar power add employment and sustainability dimensions to the project.
One of the corridor's distinctive features is its all-women train operating team. Around 100 women drivers are expected to operate services on the route, making it a significant initiative for women's participation in public transport operations. The project also aims to meet around 30 per cent of its electricity requirements through solar power.
At Shivajinagar's District Court Metro station, Line 3 connects with the existing Metro network, including Line 1 between Pimpri-Chinchwad and Swargate and Line 2 between Vanaz and Ramwadi. A common ticketing platform is also expected to make transfers between the networks more convenient.
The project has been implemented through a public-private partnership model. The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority developed the corridor, while Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited, a joint venture involving Tata and Siemens, implemented it.
The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority estimates that the line could eventually serve around two to 2.5 lakh passengers daily. Its impact will depend on passenger adoption, the completion of the remaining stations and effective integration with other transport services.
