Nearly two years after Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (Maha-Metro) began discussions with Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, the revised Rs 129.37 billion (bn) Metro Phase Two proposal connecting Bhakti Shakti, Wakad, Nashik Phata and Chakan remains caught in the approval process. On Monday Maha-Metro made its fourth presentation of the revised detailed project report before PCMC office-bearers and political leaders, but the civic body once again stopped short of taking a final decision. The repeated presentations have prompted questions over the delay in clearing the project despite revisions based on inputs from political representatives.

Atul Gadgil, director (works) at Maha-Metro, said stakeholders were asked to submit suggestions in writing so they could be discussed with the PCMC commissioner and noted it was the fourth presentation. A senior Maha-Metro official speaking anonymously expressed frustration that each session brought fresh suggestions and argued it was neither possible nor practical to keep revising the report repeatedly. The proposal has been awaiting approval from the PCMC general body for nearly six months before it can be forwarded to the state government.

The revised detailed project report outlines a 45.295 km corridor comprising 34 stations and envisages it as the backbone of Pimpri Chinchwad's future Metro network. The corridor is planned to integrate with four key stations: Bhakti Shakti on the proposed Phase One extension, Wakad Chowk on Metro Line Three, Nashik Phata on Line One and Sant Tukaram Nagar on Line One, allowing commuters to travel across Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad with fewer road transfers. The plan is projected to improve connectivity to major employment and industrial hubs, including Hinjewadi and Chakan, and includes a Nigdi-Talawade IT Park-Chakan missing link intended to connect the city’s IT and industrial clusters and become part of a ring Metro network.

The revised report also includes a 17 km double-decker link with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Multimodal hubs are planned at four chowks to integrate Metro services with PMPML, BRT and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses. The presentation at Maha-Metro’s office was attended by the mayor, Member of Parliament, several local legislators and senior officials, and the MP urged preparation of a DPR for an additional corridor linking Mukai Chowk, Kiwale, Ravet and adjoining nodes. Municipal leaders stressed that Metro planning should account for long term city growth and expressed a commitment to extend connectivity through Nigdi-Chakan, Nigdi-Wagholi and ring corridors.