Cabinet approves Pune, Bengaluru Metro rail projects

NEW DELHI: The central cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved several metro rail projects in the country, including the Swargate to Katraj underground line extension of the Pune Metro, the Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project, and phase 3 of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Project.

The new extension of the existing PCMC-Swargate Metro Line of the Pune Metro will be a 5.46-kilometre-long stretch. This extension will be known as Line 1B. This line will connect Market Yard, Bibwewadi, Balaji Nagar, and Katraj suburbs. 

The estimated cost of the project is pegged at ₹2954.53 crore, which will be shared between the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra along with contributions from the bilateral agencies. 

Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project will build a track alongside the western flank of the city. This 29-kilometre corridor will consist of 22 stations. About 26 km of this track will be built as an elevated corridor, and 3 km will be underground. On one side of this line is the Ulhas River, and on the other lies Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The estimated cost of this project is ₹12,200.10 crore, which will be shared between the state government and the central government, just like the Line-1 B project.

Phase 3 of the Bangalore Metro Rail Project consists of two elevated corridors with a length of 44.65 km. Corridor 1 of this project will be 32.15 km long and connect JP Nagar and Kempapura, running alongside Outer Ring Road West. Corridor 2 will connect Hosahalli to Kadabagere. This 12.50 km long stretch, with nine stations, will run alongside Magadi Road. The cost of this project is pegged at ₹15,611 km.