Pune metro rail will be running its
second trial on another route, on Vanaz to Garware college stretch on Karve
road in two months, reported Indian Express. This comes after they ran their
first trial on the 6 km Pimpri Chinchwad to Phugewadi stretch.

“The aim is to start the commercial
operations of Pune metro rail in 2021 but exact date cannot be decided now,”
Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director, Maha-Metro said.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact
on the Pune metro rail work, leading to serious delays.

“There has been no significant cost
increase of the project works but time wise delay had taken place,” Dixit said.

Pune metro will get  coaches by May, and will be using coaches
from Nagpur metro for trials.

 “The phase one of Pune metro rail is of 31 km
and trial run is going on in the 6 km stretch now. Two stations on the stretch
from PCMC to Phuegwadi are nearing completion,” he said.

To explore the opportunities
presented by Metro-Neo from Swargate to Katraj, Dixit said that the Maharasthra
Metro has received the green signal from Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

“The union government has accepted the
Metro neo as national model. It has low ridership and cost effective solution
of mass transport to cater to the less populated area,” he said. He also added
that while buses have a carrying capacity of 4,000 citizens per hour, metro
rail can carry 20,000 citizens per hour.

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 “The Metro Neo is cost effective with one fourth
cost of metro rail and has the capacity to transport 10,000-12,000 persons in
an hour,” Dixit said.

However, the Detailed Project
Report (DPR) is still awaited.

 “It will be the state government that will
take a decision on whether to opt for Metro-Neo in city for mass transport in
certain stretch of the proposed metro rail route,” he said.