September 25, 2025: The ongoing extension of Pune Metro’s Purple Line from Pimpri to Nigdi’s Bhakti Shakti has drawn widespread public criticism, with heavy road damage along the route causing daily hardship for commuters. In response, the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) has assured the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) that it will fully repair the affected roads.
According to PCMC officials, Maha Metro has requested permission from both the civic body and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police to temporarily close the road for a few days and divert traffic via service roads. Once traffic is halted, permanent repair work will begin. The diversion is expected to affect the stretch of the Old Mumbai–Pune Highway between Bhakti Shakti Chowk and Chinchwad Railway Station Chowk.
The 4.5-kilometre corridor, handed over by PCMC to Maha Metro, includes service roads and a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route. Construction activity involves deep excavation to erect pillars and viaducts, leaving the roads narrowed by barricades and the footpaths dismantled. With heavy vehicle movement towards Talegaon Dabhade, Lonavala, and the Mumbai–Pune Motorway, the route has become severely congested.
Commuters have voiced strong concerns over deteriorated road conditions. Suhas Karmarkar, a resident of Vadgaon Maval, described how a 10-minute commute now often takes more than half an hour due to potholes, narrowed lanes, and long queues during rush hours. Despite repeated complaints from residents, social groups, and elected representatives, little progress was seen until now.
Maha Metro Managing Director Shravan Hardikar acknowledged the problem, stating that rains and high traffic volumes caused recurring potholes. He requested phased traffic closures to allow for permanent repairs. PCMC officials have confirmed their willingness to cooperate, provided Maha Metro coordinates with traffic police and shares a clear repair timeline.
Source: The Free Press Journal
