Pune Metro Line 3 Ready but Inauguration Delayed: Congress Questions 'For Whom?'
The Congress party on Wednesday accused Maharashtra's ruling BJP of deliberately delaying the inauguration of Pune Metro's Line 3, which runs from Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar. According to the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), the first phase of the line is ready for operations but awaits clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS).
Former Congress MLA Mohan Joshi said, 'Even though the safety inspection of the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar metro is complete, the metro line is not operational. For whom has it been delayed?' He pointed out that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier announced that the first phase would become operational in May and the second phase in July. 'The state government has missed multiple deadlines. Passengers were expecting the first phase to start on July 15. That planning has also collapsed,' Joshi added.
The PMRDA has confirmed that the infrastructure is ready and that the only pending requirement is the CMRS safety certification. The delay has sparked political controversy, with the opposition accusing the state government of stalling the project for reasons unknown.
Officials have not commented on the timeline for the CMRS clearance or the inauguration date. The Line 3 is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the IT hub of Hinjewadi and the city centre, benefiting thousands of daily commuters.
