Vanaz-Chandani Chowk Metro Corridor Gets Cabinet Nod

Pune's public transport map just got a major upgrade. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Phase-2 of the Pune Metro Rail Project, covering two new corridors: Vanaz to Chandani Chowk (Corridor 2A) and Ramwadi to Wagholi/Vitthalwadi (Corridor 2B). These are extensions of the existing Vanaz-Ramwadi line built under Phase-1, and together they mark one of the most significant transit investments the city has seen in recent years.

The two elevated corridors will together span 12.75 km and include 13 stations, connecting fast-developing suburbs such as Chandani Chowk, Bavdhan, Kothrud, Kharadi, and Wagholi. For residents and homebuyers in Kothrud specifically, this is a direct win. The Vanaz-Chandani Chowk stretch alone runs 1.12 km with two stations, effectively plugging one of West Pune's busiest junctions into the metro grid for the first time.

The numbers behind the project are substantial. The estimated project cost stands at Rs 3,626.24 crore, to be shared equally between the Government of India, the Government of Maharashtra, and external bilateral or multilateral funding agencies. Implementation has been handed to Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro), which will handle all civil, electro-mechanical, and allied works, with preliminary survey and design activity already underway. The project is scheduled for completion within four years.

Beyond just adding stations, this approval is about weaving Pune's transit network together. The move aligns with Pune's Comprehensive Mobility Plan, which envisions a continuous Chandani Chowk to Wagholi Metro corridor to strengthen east-west mass transit in Pune. Once operational, commuters will be able to switch seamlessly between Line-1 (Nigdi-Katraj) and Line-3 (Hinjewadi-District Court) at the District Court interchange, turning what is currently a fragmented network into a genuinely integrated one.

There's also a long-distance travel angle. Under long-term mobility planning, intercity bus services from cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru will be integrated at Chandani Chowk, giving Kothrud residents easier last-mile access to interstate travel without battling traffic on Paud Road. Officials expect these extensions will also help decongest arterial routes such as Paud Road and Nagar Road, two corridors that have long struggled with peak-hour bottlenecks.

Ridership projections underline the scale of ambition here. After completion of these corridors, the projected incremental daily ridership for the entire Line 2 is estimated at 0.96 lakh in 2027, climbing to 2.01 lakh by 2037 and eventually 3.49 lakh by 2057. That's a strong signal that Maha-Metro and the state government see this stretch as a long-term backbone for West Pune's mobility, not just a short-term fix.

For homebuyers, metro connectivity has historically been one of the strongest catalysts for locality appreciation in Pune. Kothrud and neighbouring Bavdhan already command premium positioning thanks to proximity to Paud Road, top schools, and hospitals; a confirmed metro link only adds to that case. Projects positioned within walking or short-drive distance of the upcoming Chandani Chowk and Vanaz stations are likely to see sustained interest from both end-users and investors over the next few years as construction progresses.

SOBHA has an established presence in this very corridor, with residential developments in the Kothrud-Bavdhan belt designed for exactly this kind of long-term infrastructure upside. As Maha-Metro moves from approval to execution over the coming four years, buyers evaluating homes here would do well to factor in this connectivity timeline alongside their purchase decision.