Pune, November 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India has become the world’s fastest-growing economy and is making progress in poverty reduction, adding that public investment in infrastructure is creating jobs and boosting development.
Virtually inaugurating the 23.2-km Pune Metro Line 3 (Pink Line), connecting Maan/Hinjewadi’s IT hub with Shivajinagar’s District Court Metro station, Modi said funds previously lost through leakages were now reaching beneficiaries directly. He added that government spending on infrastructure was generating employment opportunities.
Built under a public-private partnership (PPP) model at a cost of over Rs 8,300 crore, the elevated corridor is expected to reduce travel time and traffic congestion. Modi highlighted that the line is operated entirely by women train operators and that around 30 per cent of its power requirements are met through solar energy.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the Pune Metro Phase-II expansion, estimated to cost around Rs 13,500 crore. The expansion will connect key residential and commercial areas, including Kharadi, Wagholi, Hadapsar, Swargate and Khadakwasla.
Describing Pune as a major centre for IT, automotive, pharmaceuticals, startups, innovation and manufacturing, Modi said improved metro connectivity would strengthen the city’s development and quality of life. He also stressed the need for eco-friendly mass transit systems and integrated connectivity between metro stations, bus terminals and railway stations.
Citing a recent World Bank report, Modi said India had lifted 50 crore people out of extreme poverty. He also said the country’s metro network had expanded from 248 km in 2014 to nearly 1,200 km, with services now operating in 26 cities compared with five before 2014. India, he added, has the world’s third-largest metro network, with more than one crore passengers commuting daily.
Modi highlighted the Pune project as an example of the PPP model and referred to the Rs 1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund aimed at developing smaller cities as growth hubs. He urged local bodies and the private sector to work together.
The Prime Minister also referred to drought conditions in Maharashtra due to scanty rainfall and assured the Centre’s assistance in addressing the situation.
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