BY DEBASHREE CHAKRABORTY
PUNE | 3 NOVEMBER 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a series of Pune Metro projects valued at approximately ₹21,800 crore via video conferencing. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister extended warm Diwali greetings to the people of Pune and Maharashtra, remarking that festive joy multiplies when new public conveniences are added to daily life.
Recalling that he had laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the Pune Metro ten years ago, PM Modi noted that the newly inaugurated Hinjawadi to Shivajinagar corridor will provide superior connectivity to a major IT hub. Furthermore, the new line initiated today will link the old and new parts of the city, significantly improving urban transit.
Describing Pune as a historic centre of ideas that has consistently guided the nation and society, the Prime Minister stated that the city is now channeling the fresh energy of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) across key sectors including IT, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, startups, innovation, and manufacturing. As a booming hub of youth aspirations, Pune’s development is set to receive a major boost. “And in such a scenario, the strengthening metro connectivity here is going to give new momentum to the development of Pune city,” PM Modi noted.
Explaining that the expansion of the Pune Metro reflects how modern cities are being shaped for a Viksit Bharat, the Prime Minister observed that contemporary urban centres are no longer judged solely by traditional markers like local industries, cuisine, or regional produce. Instead, modern cities are now evaluated by their global competitiveness and Ease of Living. Both of these metrics are directly enhanced by robust metro networks that save commuting time and offer greater daily convenience.
PM Modi pointed out that saving a city’s time directly boosts urban productivity, which in turn accelerates the national economy. “And when the economy grows, both the poor and the middle class benefit from it,” asserted Shri Modi.
Highlighting the rapid transformation of India’s urban transit landscape, the Prime Minister revealed that the country’s metro network has now expanded to nearly 1,200 kilometres across 26 cities, currently serving over one crore daily commuters. “Today the Indian metro network is counted among the top three metro networks in the world,” PM Modi concluded, underscoring the government’s continued focus on next-generation infrastructure to drive national growth.
Highlighting a massive infrastructure boom, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that Maharashtra’s metro expansion mirrors the nation’s rapid development since 2014. Speaking at a recent inauguration event, the Prime Minister pointed out that the state’s operational metro network has expanded significantly from just 10 to 11 kilometers in 2014 to nearly 175 kilometers today.
Furthermore, extensive construction is currently underway on over 680 kilometers of new metro lines across Maharashtra, backed by a massive investment exceeding ₹2.5 lakh crore. PM Modi emphasized the direct economic benefits of this mega expenditure, noting that the capital injection heavily supports local livelihoods. “This money is going into the pockets of laborers, this money is giving employment to engineers, and this money is creating employment in shops and in factories,” he observed.
Underscoring a key operational milestone, the Prime Minister highlighted that the newly inaugurated corridor was successfully executed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. He praised this collaborative framework between the government and the private sector as a highly effective blueprint for national growth, concluding that the success of such development models provides vital momentum to India’s overall progress.
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