By Tasneem Bandukwala
The Union Budget 2026-27 has announced an allocation of ₹517 crore for the Pune Metro project. The funds will be utilized for the continuation of the metro construction work. This will also enable the construction of new routes in the city and surrounding areas.
The Pune Metro project was created to reduce traffic and save time. It is also a safe and affordable public transport service for citizens of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The project is being implemented by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha Metro). At present, the metro operates on 33 km in two corridors, covering the crucial areas of the city.
Some areas of Phase-I are still pending, although metro services have already begun on most routes. The new budget allocation will enable the completion of the pending work, according to officials. The most prominent project is the Pimpri-Nigdi elevated route, where only part of the work has been done so far.
Another major extension is the Swargate to Katraj underground tunnel where the tunneling process is expected to begin soon. The agencies for tunneling are being finalized, and the process is expected to begin before the monsoon season.
The Pune Metro handles a total of two lakh passengers daily. This indicates that there is regular usage, but there are no immediate plans to add more metro trains, according to officials. Many passengers have expressed their concern regarding last-mile connectivity. This includes issues such as inadequate feeder bus services, parking facilities near stations and accessing metro stations from the nearby areas.
Besides the projects that are currently under way, Maha Metro will also use some of the money to analyze new routes for the metro in Phase-II. The new routes will be analyzed for their feasibility and the cost involved. The new routes include Khadakwasla-Swargate-Kharadi, Ramwadi-Wagholi-Vitthalwadi, Vanaz-Chandni Chowk and Nal Stop-Warje. These routes are expected to link the new residential areas to offices as well as the busiest sites in the city.
The allocation of ₹517 crore indicates that the Central Government is concerned with improving public transport in major cities. For Pune, the allocation will help improve travel and decrease traffic on roads, besides ensuring that the city develops in a planned manner.