Readying to launch its service in Q4 , Pune Metro carried out the first trial run on a 3-km stretch from Vanaz to Anandnagar, on the route that will go all the way to Ramwadi.
It hopes to open to the public on a 5-km stretch from Vanaz to Garware College by October-November, according to said Brijesh Dixit, MD, Maha-Metro.
The trial run was flagged off by deputy CM Ajit Pawar. About 60% of Metro rail work has been completed and the remaining work will also be expedited by Maha-Metro. He said that PMC should take the initiative for extension of the underground Metro route from Swargate to Katraj as an elevated Metro rail is not possible on the stretch. Similarly, the Metro route should be extended from Vanaz to Chandni Chowk, Ramwadi to Wagholi.
Incidentally, in its draft development plan, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority has proposed to build a network of 10 Metro routes, among other infrastructural developments. Earlier, Pune Metro had carried out a trial run on the 6-km stretch from Pimpri-Chinchwad to Phugewadi, on the route to Swargate.
The Pune Metro project is being executed by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation, or Maha-Metro. It is developing two routes in the city – a 16.6-km-long route from Pimpri-Chinchwad to Swargate, and a 14.7-km-long route from Vanaz to Ramwadi.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad to Swargate route is an elevated one from Pimpri-Chinchwad to Shivajinagar, and then underground till Swargate. The Vanaz to Ramwadi route will be a completely elevated one.
