In a major announcement aimed at improving Pune’s urban mobility, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Pune MP, Muralidhar Mohol, said on Monday that the Pune Metro will soon be connected directly to the Pune International Airport. To initiate this process, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been directed to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the new metro route.
Mohol was speaking after attending a meeting of the Airport Advisory Committee (AAC), where multiple development issues related to the Pune Airport were discussed. He emphasized that the growing demand for efficient, seamless travel options to the airport makes metro connectivity a crucial priority.
According to Mohol, the new metro link will run from Kharadi to Pune Airport, forming a significant segment of the broader Khadakwasla–Swargate–Hadapsar–Kharadi metro corridor, which is already under planning. This would allow passengers from various parts of the city, including the IT hub of Kharadi, to access the airport directly without heavy reliance on road transport.
Highlighting the strategic importance of Kharadi, Mohol proposed that the area be developed into an Interchangeable and Multimodal Transport Hub. “Kharadi and its surroundings are witnessing rapid commercial and residential development. Establishing a transport hub here would provide citizens with multiple options for travel, improving the overall connectivity within the city and towards the airport,” he said.
Further underlining Pune’s future transport vision, Mohol also proposed the creation of another metro line connecting Katraj to Hinjewadi, aimed at linking two critical residential and IT zones, further strengthening Pune’s metro network.
Mohol shared that discussions have already taken place with key stakeholders, including the General Managers of Maha Metro, and officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Given that airport connectivity projects fall under the combined jurisdiction of Maha Metro and PMC, it was decided that PMC would be responsible for drafting the DPR to move the project forward.
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Later, reinforcing his views on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mohol reiterated that a transport hub at Kharadi would align well with the area’s urban expansion, providing an integrated solution for metro, bus, and other transportation systems, ultimately easing traffic congestion and promoting sustainable growth in Pune.
Source: IndianEXPRESS
