PUNE: Pune’s metro commuters experienced frustration and inconvenience when two consecutive metro trains were cancelled at the Ruby Hall Metro station on a Wednesday evening. The sudden cancellations led to a gathering of a large crowd of passengers at the station, highlighting the recurring operational challenges faced by the Pune Metro service.
This incident marks the second time in a row that metro services have been disrupted. Just the day before, on October 3, the metro service between Nal Stop and Vanaz had come to a halt for 21 minutes. It’s worth noting that this is the third time operational issues have been reported on the Ruby Hall to Vanaz Metro line since August 14.
Dr. Hemant Sonawane, the Executive Director of Public Relations and Administration for Pune Metro, acknowledged the inconvenience caused and assured passengers that a thorough investigation would be conducted. He stated, “Yes, the trains from Ruby Hall to Vanaz route were cancelled. We will conduct a thorough investigation. Sometimes mistakes happen. We will investigate and fix them.”
According to passengers present at Ruby Hall station on the fateful evening, the display initially indicated that a Metro to Vanaz was due in a few minutes. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when the display changed to show an arrival in 7 minutes.
As the metro finally arrived, it did so at an unusually slow pace, raising concerns among passengers. They were pressed against closed doors, attempting to board the train. After a brief wait, it became apparent that the doors would not open, and the metro honked twice before departing the platform.
In a matter of minutes, another metro arrived at the station. Passengers, who had witnessed the previous cancellations, exchanged comments and likened their experience to the bustling Mumbai local trains. Unfortunately, this sequence of events resulted in the cancellation of two metro trains on the same day, adding to the frustration of commuters.
The incident underscores the importance of addressing operational challenges promptly to ensure a seamless commuting experience for Pune’s metro passengers.
