Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently emphasized the significant acceleration in India's metro rail development, stating that cities like Pune would have faced decades-long waits for modern transit connectivity had the pace of expansion remained as it was before 2014.
Modi's remarks followed the inauguration of Pune Metro Line 3, also known as the Pink Line, a project completed at a cost exceeding ₹8,300 crore. This new corridor connects the Maan area to the District Court Metro station, providing crucial links between the Hinjewadi IT hub and Shivajinagar.
India's Metro Network Sees Expansive Growth
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister detailed the dramatic growth of India's operational metro network. In 2014, the country had only 248 kilometers of metro lines spread across five cities. Today, that network has expanded to nearly 1,200 kilometers, serving 26 cities nationwide.
"Let me ask you... If India’s Metro network had continued expanding at the pace it did before 2014, how long would the wait be for cities like Pune to have a metro? YEARS….no…DECADES perhaps. And that was UNACCEPTABLE," Modi stated, underscoring the urgency of the accelerated development.
The daily ridership across India's metro systems now exceeds one crore passengers. This expansion, Modi noted, translates into tangible benefits for urban dwellers, including reduced traffic congestion, increased family time, enhanced productivity, and improved economic opportunities.
Pune's Pink Line and Future Expansion
The newly inaugurated Pune Metro Line 3 is approximately 23 kilometers long and is expected to significantly ease commuting for thousands of IT professionals and other residents. Notably, the Pink Line will be operated entirely by women train operators, and plans are in place to meet around 30% of its electricity needs through solar power.
During the same event, Prime Minister Modi also laid the foundation stone for Phase-II of the Pune Metro project, an initiative estimated to cost ₹13,500 crore. This subsequent phase includes Lines 2A, 2B, 4, and 4A, which are designed to further strengthen connectivity across Pune's major residential, commercial, and IT hubs. Proposed corridors like Line 4, linking Kharadi to Khadakwasla over 25.52 km, and Line 4A, connecting Nal Stop to Manik Baug over 6.12 km, aim to enhance the city's urban transit infrastructure.