Pune: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Civil Court to Swargate 3.5 km underground metro stretch virtually via a video link on Sunday. The opening of three metro stations — Kasba Peth , Mandai and Swargate— on this route will go a long way in decongesting traffic in the core parts of Pune, reduce the pressure on roads in several other areas and better connect Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.
Maha Metro officials and Pune's MP and Union minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol confirmed that the metro's inauguration by the PM will take place on Sunday virtually. He will also lay the foundation of the Swargate to Katraj underground metro stretch and throw open the Solapur airport. The PM was to inaugurate the Swargate metro stretch on Thursday.
He was to travel in the metro between Civil Court and Swargate. His visit to the city was cancelled due to a heavy rain alert putting on hold the metro's services from Civil Court to Swargate for citizens till a new opening date was announced. Earlier in the day, BJP's city unit president Dheeraj Ghate said that the stretch will open for commuters at the earliest, adding that a virtual inauguration by the PM or rescheduling his visit was being explored.
Executive director of Maha Metro Hemant Sonawane said, "The weather alert led to the cancellation of the function on Thursday." Other metro officials said that instructions from the state and central govt were awaited for Sunday's opening. But commuters expecting .