Purple Line (Pune Metro)
| Line 1 (Purple Line) | |
|---|---|
 Purple Line Metro Train | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | Pune Metropolitan Region |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 13 (Operational) |
| Service | |
| Type | Rapid Transit |
| System | Pune Metro |
| Operator(s) | MahaMetro |
| Rolling stock | Titagarh Firema |
| History | |
| Opened | 6 March 2022 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 16.59 km (Operational) 9.2 km (Under Construction) |
| Character | Elevated & Underground |
Line 1 (Purple Line) of the Pune Metro is the first line of the city's mass transit network.[1][2][3][4][5][6] It runs from PCMC Bhavan to Swargate. The 16.59 km (10.31 mi) line is elevated till Range Hills with 9 stations and further goes underground up to Swargate with 5 stations.[7][8]
Planning
[edit]The line goes via Kasarwadi (Nashik Phata), Khadki and Shivajinagar.[1][2] The maintenance depot for the Purple Line is located near the Range Hills station on the land acquired from the College of Agriculture.[3][4]
Initial Proposal
[edit]On 15 August 2008, the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) work was undertaken by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and submitted their report.[9] The DPR proposed two corridors, one of which included a line running from PCMC to Swargate. The line, which was referred to as Corridor 1 before being given the name "Purple" was proposed to span 16.589 km (10.308 mi) of which 11.570 km (7.189 mi) was elevated and 5.019 km (3.119 mi) was underground.[10] The DPR also proposed 15 stations of which 6 were underground and 9 were elevated.[10] However, the DPR had to be modified and updated several times before it was finally sent to the state and central government. The DPR was finally approved by the State in June 2012.[11][12] However, it received the final approval from the Central Government only on 7 December 2016, almost 4.5 years later.[13]
Bhakti Shakti Extension
[edit]In January 2018 PCMC leadership and local MLA's began demanding extension of the metro line from PCMC to Bhakti Shakti. Many civil groups soon started protesting for the extension. Following the increasing public demand PCMC allocated a portion of their budget to Maha Metro to prepare a DPR for the Bhakti Shakti extension. In October 2018, Maha Metro submitted the DPR to the PCMC Standing Committee.[14][15][16] The DPR proposed a 4.519 km (2.808 mi) elevated extension with 4 stations and an estimated cost of ₹1,253 crore (US$150 million). The State government then approved the extension in February 2021 and the extension received its final approval from the Central government on 23 October 2023.[17]
In late 2023 to early 2024 Maha Metro awarded several tenders for the line. The detailed design consultancy was awarded LKT Engineering for ₹1.11 crore (US$130,000) while the construction of 4.519 km (2.808 mi) viaduct was awarded to RVNL for a cost of ₹339.23 crore (US$40 million).[18][19] Maha Metro later released tenders for the construction of the 4 stations, which is still under tendering process.
Katraj Extension
[edit]In January 2018 the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) approved Maha Metro to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for extending the Purple Line from Swargate to Katraj.[20] The DPR was later submitted to the PMC in January 2020. The DPR proposed a 5.464 km (3.395 mi) extensions with 3 stations costing a total of ₹4,283.72 crore (US$510 million). Later on 17 March 2020, the extension was approved by PMC's standing committee.[21] The DPR was then forwarded to the general committee who approved the extension in March 2021, who then forwarded it to the state government.[22] The state government then approved the extension in April 2022 and it received its final approval from the central government on 16 August 2024.[23][24] was approved by the State in June 2012.[25][26] However, it received the final approval from the Central Government only on 7 December 2016,
However, following public consultations, there was significant backlash regarding the long distance between the stations. To address this concern, two additional stations—Balaji Nagar and Bibwewadi—were proposed..[27][28] The revised proposal would increase the cost by ₹683 crore (US$81 million). The state government later announced it would take the financial burden of funding the two additional stations. Mahametro later revised the tender to include the construction of two additional stations.[29][30]
Construction
[edit]Soil testing and topographical surveys of the concerned areas started in late December 2016. Excavation work for erection of pillars began in early June, 2017. The construction of the first pillar was completed by October 2017 and construction work of up to ten pillars was underway. The first viaduct was completely erected by January 2018.[5] The first batch of tracks were laid between PCMC and Sant Tukaram Nagar in the second week of July 2019.[6]
List of stations
[edit]Following is a list of stations on this route:
| Purple Line | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Station Name | Opening | Connections | Layout | |
| English | Marathi | ||||
| 1 | Bhakti Shakti | भक्ती शक्ती | Under Construction | Rainbow BRTS | Elevated |
| 2 | Nigdi | निगडी | Under Construction | Rainbow BRTS | Elevated |
| 3 | Akurdi | आकुर्डी | Under Construction | Rainbow BRTS & Akurdi railway station | Elevated |
| 4 | Chinchwad | चिंचवड | Under Construction | Rainbow BRTS & Chinchwad railway station | Elevated |
| 5 | PCMC Bhavan | पिंपरी-चिंचवड महानगरपालिका भवन | 6 March 2022 | Rainbow BRTS | Elevated |
| 6 | Sant Tukaram Nagar | संत तुकाराम नगर | 6 March 2022 | Rainbow BRTS & Vallabhnagar MSRTC Bus Station | Elevated |
| 7 | Nashik Phata | नाशिक फाटा | 6 March 2022 | Rainbow BRTS | Elevated |
| 8 | Kasarwadi | कासारवाडी | 6 March 2022 | Rainbow BRTS & Kasarwadi railway station | Elevated |
| 9 | Phugewadi | फुगेवाडी | 6 March 2022 | Rainbow BRTS | Elevated |
| 10 | Dapodi | दापोडी | 1 August 2023 | Rainbow BRTS & Dapodi railway station | Elevated |
| 11 | Bopodi | बोपोडी | 1 August 2023 | None | Elevated |
| 12 | Khadki | खडकी | 21 June 2025 | Khadki railway station | Elevated |
| 13 | Range Hills | रेंज हिल्स | Under Construction | None | Elevated |
| 14 | Shivaji Nagar | शिवाजी नगर | 1 August 2023 | Shivaji Nagar railway station, Shivaji Nagar MSRTC Bus Station & Pink Line (Under Construction) | Underground |
| 15 | District Court Pune | जिल्हा न्यायालय पुणे | 1 August 2023 | Aqua Line & Pink Line (Under Construction) | Underground |
| 16 | Kasba Peth | कसबा पेठ | 29 September 2024 | None | Underground |
| 17 | Mandai | मंडई | 29 September 2024 | None | Underground |
| 18 | Swargate | स्वारगेट | 29 September 2024 | Rainbow BRTS & Swargate MSRTC Bus Station | Underground |
| 19 | Market Yard | मार्केट यार्ड | Approved | None | Underground |
| 20 | Padmavati | पद्मावती | Approved | None | Underground |
| 21 | Katraj | कात्रज | Approved | None | Underground |
Infrastructure
[edit]Signalling
[edit]The Purple Line utilises the Alstom Urbalis 400 communications-based train control (CBTC) signalling system. Alstom was awarded a EUR90 million contract to supply the signalling and telecommunications systems for the Purple and Aqua Lines, as well as Mumbai Metro Line 2 and Line 7.[31]
Incidents
[edit]On 21 October around 12AM, a fire struck at Mandai metro station. Located in the heart of the vegetable market in Pune. Fire Brigade reached the station and reported that the fire was caused by the Welding works at the station. No casualties were reported as no trains were running during the morning hours.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to revise metro rail project report The Times Of India (27 September 2012).
- ^ a b "College of Agriculture campus, a green lung, loses 119 acres to govt projects in three decades". The Indian Express. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Pune Metro work hits top gear". Hindustan Times. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ a b "MahaMetro Project Update". punemetrorail.org. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
- ^ a b "MahaMetro lays tracks between PCMC and Sant Tukaramnagar". The Times of India. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
- ^ "MahaMetro begins ramp work to link elevated, underground legs". The Times of India. 15 February 2019.
- ^ "Pune: Metro ramp connecting viaduct to underground tunnel completed". The Times of India. 12 August 2021.
- ^ After Mumbai, Pune to get Metro. Businesstoday.intoday.in (8 June 2012).
- ^ a b "Wayback Machine" (PDF). www.punemetrorail.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Alternate form of public transport is the only option for Pune | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ "Pune's Metro ride a distant dream | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ "Pune Metro plan gets green signal from Union cabinet". The Indian Express. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ "PCMC panel approves Metro extension report". The Times of India. 12 December 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Pimpri-Nigdi metro line extension to cost Rs 1500 crore". Hindustan Times. 10 October 2018. Archived from the original on 22 December 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "PCMC panel approves Metro extension DPR". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Centre approves Metro extension till Nigdi". Hindustan Times. 23 October 2023. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "RVNL Wins Pune Metro Nigdi Extension's Construction Contract C-01". The Metro Rail Guy. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Pune Metro Nigdi Extension: LKT Awarded Design Consultant Contract DDC-01". The Metro Rail Guy. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "PMC nod to prepare DPR for Swargate-Katraj Metro". The Times of India. 5 January 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ Singh, Neha (19 March 2020). "Pune Municipal Corporation Approves Metro Extension From Swargate-Katraj - Metro Rail News". metrorailnews.in. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "PMC Approves Pune Metro's Swargate - Katraj Extension". The Metro Rail Guy. 20 March 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Pune Metro Update: Swargate to Katraj underground metro extension approved by Central government – Details inside". The Financial Express. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Pune's Swargate to Katraj metro rail route gets union government approval". The Indian Express. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Alternate form of public transport is the only option for Pune | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ "Pune's Metro ride a distant dream | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ "Additional stations planned on Swargate-Katraj metro corridor to delay project". Hindustan Times. 26 February 2025. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Additional stations proposed on Swargate-Katraj metro route in Pune: Urban Affairs Minister Madhuri Misal". The Indian Express. 20 January 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Maha-Metro issues revised tender for Swargate-Katraj metro extension, Maha to fund two additional stations". Hindustan Times. 14 April 2025. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Two addl proposed stations on Swargate-Katraj Metro route to up project cost by 683cr". The Times of India. 19 February 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Alstom to provide state-of-the-art signalling system for Mumbai Metro and Pune Metro". Financialexpress. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2023.