CMRS inspection & commencement of Yerawada Metro station expected in July

Pune: The inspection of the elevated Yerawada Metro station by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) is expected to take place early in July, officials in the know told TOI this week.
The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) had earlier approached CMRS for the inspection schedule as the civil work of the station’s revised entry-exit point, located on the Yerawada gaothan end, has reached its last stages.
If things go according to plan, commuters’ long wait for the station’s operations to launch is expected to get over soon.
Maha Metro officials said they are looking at initiating stoppages to Metro rakes at the station immediately after the completion of the inspections.
The elevated Metro station at Yerawada was supposed to open to commuters on March 6, 2024, along with other stations on the Ramwadi route. However, after local residents and political leaders raised objections over the alignment of the entry-exit point, Maha Metro decided not to commence train services from the station before changes were made.
An official from Maha Metro told TOI, “Our teams have been working on resetting the entry-exit point. We are in the final stage of the work. Maha Metro has approached CMRS to set up an inspection schedule. We will introduce necessary changes in the timetable after receiving a final certification from CMRS. ”
The official also said Maha Metro cannot begin services from the station for commuters before this certification arrives.
Regular commuters said Yerawada is a key station on the Ramwadi route, adding that it is likely to witness good footfall due to the abundance of residential and commercial establishments in the area. Akash Mehendale, who works at a private firm in Yerawada, said he is unable to use the Metro just because this station is still not operational. Questioning the delay in completing the work, Mehendale said, “The authorities have not been able to start services even after three months.”
Local residents had expressed concern over possible traffic jams caused by the earlier entry-exit point, pointing out that it was obstructing traffic flow in a lane going towards the gaothan from the main road.