Pune: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday took a ride on the city’s Metro Pink Line, along with deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, after purchasing the first ticket on the newly inaugurated corridor.He travelled about 6km from Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi to Hinjewadi Phase 2. The Pink Line (Metro Line 3) from Maan to District Court is a 23km elevated corridor.Pavanjit Mane of Forum for IT Employees, who participated in the first ride, said it was a big relief. “We have been raising the issue of phase-wise opening of the Metro corridor. The new line will be a big relief. Within 15 minutes we will be on the highway. Reaching there was a big challenge. A huge number of people will take Metro from Wakad,” he said.Baner and Balewadi people will prefer Metro from Balewadi stadium. “Authorities should open the Baner stations soon,” Mane told TOI.Pune Metro managing director Shravan Hardikar briefed the chief minister on the route, stations and key features of the project. The train of the inaugural journey was operated by an all-woman crew.Lead train pilot Pragati Biradar was at the controls, with Aishwarya Suryapujari also serving as train pilot. Their participation highlighted the role of women in operating the city’s expanding public transport network.Union minister of state Murlidhar Mohol, minister of state Madhuri Misal, Pune mayor Manjusha Nagpure, Pimpri Chinchwad mayor Ravi Landge and PMRDA commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari were among those who joined the ride, along with elected representatives and senior officials.
