Pune: Metro connectivity to the Lohegaon airport is finally on the horizon. Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol announced the much-awaited Metro connectivity to the airport via Kalyaninagar station during a joint meeting on ongoing and upcoming Metro projects on Monday. He said work on the proposed route was under way and that extending the Metro line up to the airport had become necessary.The link, once operational, would eliminate the need for passengers to get off at Yerawada or Ramwadi stations and depend on PMPML feeder buses or autorickshaws to complete their journey. Mohol said six different options were studied before finalising the link via Kalyaninagar Metro station.“After detailed discussions, the Kalyaninagar-Lohegaon stretch emerged as the most feasible alignment. A detailed project report for this link is already being prepared. Space has also been identified near the airport for the proposed Metro connectivity, with additional details to be worked out,” a Maha Metro official said.The officials said the six options explored for the airport link included alignments from Kalyaninagar, Vimannagar, Kharadi bypass and Ramwadi Metro station. “Absence of Metro’s access to airport is causing a lot of hardships to flyers. This link should be worked out on priority. Till then, authorities should improve the last mile connectivity to the airport, especially during night hours,” Amit Thite, a resident of Satara road, said.Apart from airport connectivity, the meeting also reviewed progress on the 23km Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro line. Mohol said that 13 of the 23 stations were expected to be ready by April-end and that 94% of the overall work had been completed. Trial runs on the fully elevated corridor (line 3) have already begun, though an official date for the start of commercial operations is yet to be announced.Mohol also directed Metro authorities to begin preparing the DPR for the proposed Khadakwasla-Hinjewadi route. He said work on the Ramwadi-Wagholi stretch and the Vanaz-Chandni Chowk extension would begin soon.“Work on the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro line should finish at the earliest. We expect the Metro service to start before monsoon. People are already facing a lot of hardships because of road closures and traffic diversions,” Baner resident Girish Mane said.
