Pune Metro’s Line 3, connecting Shivajinagar with the IT hub of Hinjewadi, will be operated exclusively by women train pilots, according to French transport firm Keolis, which has secured a 10-year contract to run the service.

The move was confirmed by Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited (PITCMRL) – a Tata-Siemens consortium that has partnered with Keolis. Around 100 women will be recruited and trained as pilots, supported through ongoing programmes to ensure their long-term integration. In total, 1,000 staff will be employed for the operation and maintenance of the line, which is slated to begin service by March 2026.

Under the agreement, Keolis will maintain 22 trains, 23 stations and the ticketing system for 10 years. PITCMRL is the concessionaire for the Public-Private Partnership (PPP)-based project, which spans 23 km with 23 stations between Shivajinagar and Mann. Trial runs are already underway.

The project is being developed by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) under the PPP model. Keolis, which also operates Hyderabad Metro — India’s third busiest metro carrying around 500,000 passengers daily — brings its proven expertise to Pune.

Currently, two metro lines are operational in Pune — Vanaz to Ramwadi and Pimpri Chinchwad to Swargate — both built and run by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (Maha-Metro). Extensions to these lines are under construction, while Line 4, from Khadakwasla to Kharadi via Hadapsar, has been proposed.

Once operational, Line 3 is expected to cut travel time significantly between Shivajinagar and Hinjewadi, easing road congestion and boosting economic activity along the corridor.