Cabinet Clears ₹9,858-Crore Pune Metro Expansion

The government said the increased capacity would enhance mobility, improve operational efficiency and strengthen service reliability for Indian Railways, easing congestion and streamlining operations.(PTI)

Information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Line 4 (Kharadi-Hadapsar-Swargate-Khadakwasla) and Line 4A (Nal Stop-Warje-Manik Baug) under Phase 2 of the Pune Metro Rail Project.

New Delhi : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the expansion of the Pune Metro rail network with an estimated outlay of ₹9,858 crore, along with two multi-tracking projects of Indian Railways worth ₹2,781 crore. The railway projects will cover four districts across Maharashtra and Gujarat, adding 224 km to the existing network.

Information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Line 4 (Kharadi-Hadapsar-Swargate-Khadakwasla) and Line 4A (Nal Stop-Warje-Manik Baug) under Phase 2 of the Pune Metro Rail Project.

This is the second major project cleared under Phase 2, following approval for Line 2A (Vanaz-Chandani Chowk) and Line 2B (Ramwadi-Wagholi/Vitthalwadi).

Spanning 31.636 km with 28 elevated stations, Lines 4 and 4A will connect IT hubs, commercial areas, educational institutions and residential zones across East, South and West Pune.

“The project will be completed within five years at an estimated cost of ₹9,857.85 crore, jointly funded by the Centre, the Maharashtra government and external bilateral or multilateral agencies,” the government said.

According to projections, combined daily ridership on Lines 4 and 4A is expected to be 4.09 lakh in 2028, nearly 7 lakh in 2038, 9.63 lakh in 2048 and more than 11.7 lakh in 2058.

Of this, the Kharadi-Khadakwasla corridor will account for 3.23 lakh passengers in 2028, rising to 9.33 lakh by 2058, while the Nal Stop-Warje-Manik Baug spur is projected to grow from 85,555 commuters to 2.41 lakh over the same period.

“With this approval, Pune Metro’s network will expand beyond the 100-km mark, a significant milestone toward a modern, integrated and sustainable urban transit system,” the government said.

Vaishnaw added that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Modi, approved two multi-tracking projects with a total cost of ₹2,781 crore.

The CCEA approved doubling of the 141-km Dwarka-Kanalus rail line in Gujarat and construction of the third and fourth lines along the 32-km Badlapur-Karjat route in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The government said the increased capacity would enhance mobility, improve operational efficiency and strengthen service reliability for Indian Railways, easing congestion and streamlining operations.

“These projects align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘New India’, enabling comprehensive regional development and expanding employment and self-employment opportunities,” the statement said.

Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the projects aim to improve multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency.

The multi-tracking initiative will improve rail access to around 585 villages with a combined population of nearly 32 lakh.

The doubling of the Kanalus-Okha section (Devbhoomi Dwarka) will enhance connectivity to the Dwarkadhish Temple and boost development across Saurashtra.

The Badlapur-Karjat section, part of the Mumbai suburban corridor, will gain improved capacity through the third and fourth lines, meeting future commuter demand and strengthening connectivity to southern India.