Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Third and Fourth Suburban Rail.

In a major push to urban transport infrastructure, the Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the construction of the third and fourth suburban railway lines between Pune and Lonavala. The 63.87-kilometer project, with an estimated cost of ₹5,100 crore, is designed to alleviate chronic congestion and meet future traffic demands on one of the state's busiest rail corridors.

The project will be executed by the Mumbai Railway Development Corporation and will include 17 new stations. The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority will oversee the development.

The existing Pune-Lonavala line, which has been in operation since 1927, has become severely strained. The current track utilization stands at 119%, and projections indicate that it will reach 285% within the next 30 years. The new lines are crucial for managing this expected growth. Once completed, the existing two tracks will be dedicated to suburban services, while the new third and fourth lines will handle long-distance passenger and freight trains.

Funding and Partnerships

The state government will contribute ₹765 crore, representing 30% of the project's total cost. The remaining funds will be shared by key local bodies:

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  Pune Municipal Corporation: ₹510 crore (20%)

  
  


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  Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation: ₹510 crore (20%)

  
  


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  Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority: ₹765 crore (30%)

  
  

The government has also declared the project an "Urgent Public Project," allowing a surcharge on railway tickets to be implemented, similar to the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-2). Funds from this surcharge will be deposited into the state's Urban Transport Fund to secure future funding as needed

Cabinet Also Approves Pune Metro Extension

In a separate decision, the Cabinet also approved a ₹683.11 crore extension of the Pune Metro's Swargate to Katraj line. This includes the construction of two new stations at Balajinagar and Bibvewadi and shifting the Katraj Metro station approximately 421 meters south to connect with the nearby PMPML bus station.

The Pune Metro Rail Project Phase 1, a total of 33.28 km, is being executed by Mahametro. The project includes the North-South Corridor (Pimpri-Chinchwad to Swargate) and the West-East Corridor (Vanaz to Ramwadi). The third line (Hinjawadi to Shivajinagar) is being developed on a public-private partnership basis.

Of the newly approved funds, Mahametro will contribute ₹227.42 crore to the Pune Municipal Corporation, with the remaining costs to be covered through loans.