Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MahaMetro) has commenced the first elevated viaduct segment casting work for the Swargate–Katraj metro corridor, marking a significant construction milestone in the expansion of Pune Metro’s Phase II network.
The segment casting activity was inaugurated in the presence of MahaMetro Managing Director Shravan Hardikar along with senior project officials and engineering teams associated with the corridor’s execution. The start of casting operations signals the beginning of superstructure development for one of Pune’s most critical metro expansion routes.
The Swargate–Katraj extension is considered a strategically important urban mobility project aimed at improving connectivity across Pune’s densely populated southern zones while easing traffic congestion on the heavily burdened Satara Road corridor. The metro line will connect Swargate, one of the city’s largest transport hubs, with Katraj, a rapidly expanding residential, educational, and commercial zone in southern Pune.
According to MahaMetro officials, the commencement of segment casting is a crucial phase in elevated metro construction, as precast concrete segments form the primary structural components used for building elevated viaduct spans. These segments are manufactured in casting yards and later installed using specialised launching girders to accelerate construction timelines while maintaining structural precision and safety standards.
The Swargate–Katraj corridor forms part of the extension of Pune Metro’s Purple Line and is officially designated as Line 1B. The project will span approximately 5.46 kilometres and will include three proposed stations at Market Yard, Padmavati, and Katraj. The extension will further strengthen Pune Metro’s north-south connectivity by extending the operational PCMC–Swargate corridor deeper into southern Pune.
Project officials stated that the corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel time for daily commuters while lowering dependence on private vehicles and reducing traffic congestion along one of Pune’s busiest road stretches. The route is also expected to improve multimodal integration by connecting with Swargate’s metro station, bus terminals, and regional transport infrastructure.
Following the inauguration of the casting activity, MahaMetro officials reviewed ongoing construction progress and assessed upcoming execution stages related to viaduct development, structural works, and station infrastructure. Officials also instructed project teams to maintain strict quality control measures, safety compliance, and timely project execution schedules.
The development comes as Pune continues to witness rapid metro network expansion across multiple corridors under MahaMetro and PMRDA-led projects. Alongside the Swargate–Katraj extension, major works are progressing on the PCMC–Nigdi extension, Pune Metro Phase II corridors, and the Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 project.
India’s metro rail sector has seen accelerated investment in recent years as cities increasingly focus on sustainable urban transport systems, multimodal integration, and congestion reduction. Pune Metro remains one of the country’s fastest-expanding urban transit projects, with several new corridors planned or under execution to support the city’s growing population and mobility requirements.
