Pune Metro is set to complete the Civil Court to Swargate stretch by the end of July, aiming to start operations before the Ganesh festival and the implementation of the model code of conduct for the state assembly elections in October.

Officials plan to invite the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) for the final inspection and safety clearance of the Budhwar Peth, Mandai, and Swargate stations by the end of July.

In February 2024, Pune Metro successfully conducted a trial run from Civil Court to Swargate station, the final stretch of Pune Metro Line 1.

"The work on the Swargate underground station is nearly complete, with 95% of the work done. We aim to finish the Mandai-Budhwar Peth stretch by the end of next month," said Atul Gadgil, Director- Works, Pune Metro. "If the metro work is completed on time, it will be convenient for commuters during the Ganesh festival."

The trial run in February covered the 3.34 km stretch at a speed of 7.5 km per hour, taking one hour to complete. The distance between Civil Court station and Budhwar Peth station is 0.85 km, from Budhwar Peth to Mandai is 1 km, and from Mandai to Swargate is 1.48 km.

Pune Metro is now focused on the last section of Phase 1, a 3.34-kilometer underground stretch between Civil Court and Swargate, after starting passenger services on Pune Metro Line 2 (Ruby Hall to Ramwadi) on March 6.

Currently, Pune Metro operates passenger services on Lines 1 and 2, with around 90,000 riders per day. The fare on the Vanaz to Ramwadi corridor ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 35, while on the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to Civil Court stretch, it ranges from Rs 10 to Rs 30. (Source: HT)