Pune Metro Line 3 Adopts Third-Rail Power System

Pune Metro Line 3 is set to introduce a 750-volt DC third-rail electrification system, making Pune part of a select group of Indian cities using the technology for metro operations. The 23-km fully elevated Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar corridor will be the first in the city to deploy the system.

Third-rail technology supplies power through an additional conductor rail installed beside the running tracks. Trains draw electricity through collector shoes mounted beneath them, removing the need for overhead wires and masts. The system is considered suitable for high-frequency urban transit as it reduces visual clutter, lowers maintenance needs and supports reliable operations.

The corridor will connect Hinjawadi’s Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park with key locations including Wakad, Baner, Balewadi, University Circle and Shivajinagar. The absence of overhead wiring across this busy growth corridor is expected to support cleaner and more integrated urban transport infrastructure.

Metro Line 3 will also use Communications-Based Train Control, an advanced digital signalling system that tracks train location, speed and movement in real time. The technology allows trains to run at shorter intervals while maintaining safety standards.

The line has completed end-to-end trial runs and is awaiting statutory approvals and regulatory clearances. The first phase will cover the 13.3-km Maan to R K Laxman Museum section with 12 stations. It will later be extended to District Court for integration with the Maha Metro network.

Once fully operational, Pune Metro Line 3 is expected to reduce travel time between Shivajinagar and Hinjawadi to around 45 minutes from the current 1.5 hours.