Pune: Commuters already grappling with rising fuel costs and daily traffic congestion are set for fresh disappointment over the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro. After missing five deadlines for completing the entire corridor, even the phased rollout has slipped. The Maan-Balewadi stretch, earlier expected to open by June-end, is now unlikely to be operational before July.Back in March, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced that the 23km elevated corridor would open in two stages — the first in May, followed by the second in July. But May came and went. The first phase was then pushed to June-end. Now, even that deadline is set to quietly slip.Officials said the project concessionaire had aimed to make the first 12 stations operational by June-end. Senior PMRDA officials, however, indicated that commercial services would only begin after a formal inauguration — likely in July. “The launch could happen in the first half of July or slightly later, depending on the inauguration schedule,” an official admitted, underscoring the uncertainty still hanging over the project.For thousands of commuters battling daily gridlock and spiralling fuel costs, the delay in phased opening feels like déjà vu. Anita D, an IT professional who continues to rely on her private vehicle, voiced a sentiment echoed across the IT hub. “The wait has been unending. There is a new deadline almost every month,” she said, reflecting the growing frustration among commuters to the IT hub.Priya P, who travels daily from Baner to Hinjewadi by autorickshaw, questioned the need for ceremonial delays. “With rising fuel prices and shortages, govt should prioritise starting operations immediately. Formal inaugurations are not what people need right now,” she said.Other commuters pointed to the shifting goalposts. Mohit Pawar said the original plan was to open the entire stretch in one go. “Now it’s split into 12 stations and later 11. Given the fuel crisis and traffic chaos, it should have been operational much earlier. It would have made a real difference,” he said.Despite the setbacks, the officials maintained that the project was nearing completion. The Metro Line 3 corridor is 95.2% ready, an official said, adding that the first phase was pending mandatory safety clearances. “The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) is expected to inspect the corridor on June 10. Final approval, however, could stretch beyond June, possibly pushing operations further into July. A decision will be taken after inspection, but the process may extend till end-June or even July,” a senior PMRDA official said.Meanwhile, not all stations are fully ready. Authorities conceded that work was still pending at a few stops, raising the possibility of further delays in parts of the corridor. The remaining stretch is expected to be completed over the next three to four months.Once operational, the Metro Line 3 is expected to drastically cut travel time between Pune city and the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park — one of India’s busiest IT hubs. It will also integrate with the existing Pune Metro network, connecting the PCMC-Swargate and Vanaz-Ramwadi lines.But for now, that promise remains just out of reach, as commuters continue to wait, watch and hope that this time, the deadline finally holds.
