Mumbai, Nov 3 (IANS): Infrastructure major Hindustan Construction Co. Ltd along with the UAE's Al Fara'a has been awarded a Rs 497.09 crore contract by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd to build nine elevated stations for the Pune Metro Rail project, an official said here on Friday.

The nine stations are Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Tukaram Nagar, Bhosari, Kasarwadi, Phugewadi, Dapoli, Bopodi, Khadki and Range Hill and are expected to be completed within a little more than two years.

HCC as the lead partner holds 51 per cent in the JV with Al Fara'a, for the 32-km-long Pune Metro, which will be divided between Line 1 (16.59 kms) and Line II (14.66 km).

The Line I is partly elevated and partly underground running between Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation to Swargate and all the elevated stations on it will be constructed by the HCC-Al Fara'a, HCC President Arun Karambelkar said.

The 32-km-long Pune Metro project, estimated to cost around Rs 11,500 crore is likely to be operational by 2021.

The HCC was earlier associated with six packages of the Delhi Metro including 18.14 km of tunnels and 13 underground stations. For the Kolkata Metro, it has built 6.47 km in six packages including underground stations.

For Mumbai Metro I, the company has built eight elevated stations and for the upcoming Line III it is executing a section that involves 3,115-metre-long twin-bored tunnels and four underground stations.

In Bengaluru Metro, it is constructing a section involving 6.3-km-long elevated corridor including a road-cum-rail flyover and five stations.

"We are honoured to be a part of this prestigious (Pune) project with MMRCL. It is testimony to our proven execution excellence and capabilities across Mumbai Metro, Delhi Metro and Kolkata Metro. The project will bring relief to millions of commuters and will assist in easing the severe traffic congestion in the city" said Karambelkar.