Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar has announced that the state cabinet has approved two major infrastructure decisions for Pune.

He revealed  "The state cabinet meeting has approved a proposal to construct two new stations on the extended Swargate to Katraj corridor of the Pune Metro Rail Project Phase-2. These two new metro stations will be built at Balajinagar and Bibwewadi, and the additional expenditure for this has been approved in principle." The Swargate-Katraj underground corridor (5.46 km) will now include Market Yard, Bibwewadi, Padmavati, Balajinagar, and Katraj stations.

With a project cost of Rs 3,654 crore, the metro extension will be jointly funded by the Centre, state, and private partners, with completion expected by 2029-30. Deputy CM Pawar further stated, "The state cabinet meeting has approved the state government's financial contribution to the important project of the third and fourth suburban railway lines between Pune and Lonavala." This move aims to ease commuter pressure, boost capacity, and improve Pune-Mumbai connectivity.