Pune Metro Pink Line Opens: Hinjawadi–Shivajinagar Trains Begin November 4
A long-awaited commuter link opens
Pune’s 23-kilometre Metro Line 3, known as the Pink Line, is set to begin regular passenger services on Wednesday, November 4, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the corridor virtually on Tuesday. The route connects Maan-Hinjawadi, one of the city’s busiest technology employment districts, with the District Court interchange in Shivajinagar. For employees who have spent years navigating slow road journeys between the IT park and central Pune, the opening is a substantial change in daily transport options.
Seventeen stations initially available
The first phase of passenger access covers 17 of the line’s 23 stations, according to The Indian Express. Six stations will remain closed initially as authorities finish access and related work. Officials expect two of the unfinished stations to be ready by the end of November, with the remaining four completed in phases by January 2027. That distinction matters: the line has been inaugurated, but passengers should not assume every station on the map is open from day one.
Timings and train frequency
The first service from Maan-Hinjawadi is scheduled for 6 am, with the final departure at 10:30 pm. From the Shivajinagar end, the first train is also scheduled for 6 am, while the final departure is at 11:40 pm. The published operating plan calls for trains roughly every six minutes at peak times and every 12 minutes outside the peak. Travellers should confirm their specific station access and live service information before their first trip, particularly during the opening week.
Why the interchange is important
At District Court Shivajinagar, Line 3 connects to the existing Pune Metro network, including routes serving Pimpri-Chinchwad, Swargate, Vanaz and Ramwadi. This makes the new service more than a standalone shuttle to the technology park. It creates an interchange for journeys between residential districts, workplaces and established commercial centres. Officials have also described a common ticketing application for the two systems, though passengers should check the current ticketing arrangements before relying on it.
What commuters should know about access
The opening arrangements are not identical at all 17 stations. Seven are initially expected to have access through only one staircase, while ten have fuller escalator access. This may affect people travelling with luggage or who need step-free access. Travellers with mobility needs should check station facilities individually rather than infer accessibility from the line’s general opening announcement. Opening-day crowding, station entry controls and local road connections may also affect total journey time.
A major infrastructure investment
The line was built at a reported cost of more than ₹8,300 crore under a public-private partnership involving the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited, a Tata–Siemens venture. Siemens said the new line is designed to cut journey time between Hinjawadi and Shivajinagar substantially. The project also emphasises women train operators and renewable power in its official description. These operational ambitions will be tested by passenger experience after the launch.
What happens next
Authorities estimate that the corridor could eventually attract between two lakh and 2.5 lakh riders a day. That remains a projection, not a measured opening-day count. The immediate questions are how reliably the new trains run, whether the interchange is smooth and how quickly the remaining six stations become available. For now, the important verified development is that passenger service begins on November 4, with the partial station opening and published schedules defining what riders can actually use.
