Maha Metro moves to appoint agencies for Dandekar Bridge-Khadakwasla and SNDT Chowk-Warje lines

Pune: The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) has started the process to appoint agencies to construct two new lines that will travel across busy city areas like Dattawadi, Sinhagad Road and Kothrud.

One line will connect Dandekar Bridge to Khadakwasla (with eight elevated stations), and another is envisioned from SNDT Chowk on Karve Road to Warje-Manikbaug (with six elevated stations).Both lines are part of the Metro Phase 2 expansion plan and will cover a collective distance of around 17km. Maha Metro has already started preliminary surveys on both lines, including locations of stations, possible alignment of viaduct, etc.The Union govt had issued final approvals to both lines last year. Interestingly, the Dandekar Bridge-Khadakwasla line is part of Metro’s larger Kharadi-Hadapsar-Swargate-Khadakwasla route. With Maha Metro deciding to go ahead with the Dandekar Bridge-Khadakwasla stretch on priority, clarity has emerged that the entire route will be executed in phases. Officials from Maha Metro said that tenders will be called separately for the stretch towards Hadapsar.

The Dandekar Bridge-Khadakwasla line will cover a length of 9.67km. As per the preliminary design, the maximum stretch of this line is aligned via the existing Sinhagad Road that is used by travellers at present for their daily commute. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has also made adequate arrangements for pillars of the Metro viaduct at existing flyovers on the arterial road. Provisions are also in place for entry-exit points of the elevated stations.Meanwhile, the SNDT to Warje-Manikbaug stretch will be 7.24km in length and primarily travel via Karve Road, covering key locations like Karve Putala Chowk, Dahanukar Colony Chowk and Warje. A series of meetings was held recently between Maha Metro and PMC officials to identify locations for the six Metro stations proposed on this stretch.Regular travellers on both Sinhagad Road and Karve Road said they are looking forward to Metro services beginning to ease the prevailing congestion on these stretches, particularly during peak hours.

Commuters frequently using Sinhagad Road said that while flyovers have given some relief from traffic jams here, Metro is expected to provide faster commute in all seasons.Metro officials confirmed to TOI that while the process to appoint the agencies is being launched, the project proposals will go through various administrative processes over the next few months. The actual construction is expected to finish in three-and-a-half years from the date of officially awarding the contract to executing agencies.