Pune: The foundation of the 5.46-km-long Swargate-Katraj underground Metro stretch was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday. However, actual groundwork will start at least three months later, mostly after Dec this year.
The Maha Metro , which is executing the work, said on Monday that the process to appoint an agency to take up tunnelling work will begin in the next few days. This awarding of work will be completed in the next three months, following which fieldwork will begin. Maha Metro has set the target to finish work of this stretch in four-and-a-half years.
With the completion of phase I of the Pune Metro project (covering 33km), the focus of Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) is set to shift to the next phase of work, which includes two extensions — Swargate-Katraj and PCMC-Nigdi. Field work on the PCMC-Nigdi route has already begun. Maha Metro officials clarified that while the Swargate-Katraj route work will take some more time to start, they have already begun pre-bid tasks, which includes preparing tender documents, with contracts expected to be floated for bidding shortly.
"We have also begun soil testing and other technical surveys for the Swargate-Katraj underground route. Discussions have begun with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on the provision of land for three stations. All this will help in faster execution and avoid delays," a Metro official told TOI.
Maha Metro officials also said that no major land acquisition will be .
