On Wednesday, the Maharashtra government approved the implementation of the underground Metro rail from Swargate to Katraj at an estimated cost of Rs 3,668 crore.

The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (Maha-Metro) is executing the Pune Metro rail project. It is implementing infrastructure work on two routes of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to Swargate and Vanaz to Ramwadi. Recently, it has launched its public service from PCMC to Phugewadi and Vanaz to Garware College.

There are plans for Metro rail network extension across the city, and the extension of the route from Swargate to Katraj was in consideration for a long time, but a final decision was awaited on whether to create it underground or elevated.

The state cabinet approved the underground route construction of 5.464 km, which will have three stations and would be built at Rs 3,668 crore by Maha-Metro and finished by 2027.

Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister, had pushed for its approval by the state government.

The state government will provide Rs 891.27 crore, while Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will contribute Rs 655.09 crore. The state government will ask the Union government to fund Rs 300.63 crore for the project and aim to raise Rs 1,803.79 crore via loan.

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