PUNE: After the extended services of Pune Metro have begun, the number of passengers is increasing. Every day, 65,000 people travel by metro. A possibility was being discussed that PMPML’s services will be affected after extended services of Pune Metro begin. However, the number of people travelling by PMPML buses has increased.
Before the starting of Pune Metro service, every day, 12 lakh people used to travel by PMPML buses and now, it has increased to 13 lakh. Many citizens have given preference to travelling by Pune Metro rather than using their personal vehicles. Hence, the number of people travelling by Pune Metro has increased. On the other hand, citizens prefer to travel by PMPML buses till the metro station or continue further journey by buses after alighting from Pune Metro coaches.
Hence, PMPML’s passengers have also increased. The increase in the number of people using public transport is benefitting both PMPML and Pune Metro. Puneites are benefitting by the metro service. Since the journey is fast and comfortable, people prefer to travel by Pune Metro. Later, the same passengers are preferring to travel by PMPML buses to go to their house, office or other places. Later, they think of the option of traveling by an auto. The burden on the traffic is going to reduce if people start using public transport. PMPML is also benefitting by Pune Metro service. The transport utility has made available feeder service at seven stations on both the routes.
PMPML has started no conductor service on some select routes to provide faster service to commuters. Passengers are able to save 20 to 25 minutes. Since this service is getting a good response, PMPML is going to expand this service. In the future, commuters are going to get faster service on more than 100 routes.
If ridership increases in PMPML and Pune Metro
Pressure on traffic will reduce
Accidents will reduce
Traffic jams will reduce
Less pollution
Commuters will save time
Number of vehicles till July 2023 (Source: RTO)
33.76 lakh: Two-wheelers
08, 14,000: Four wheelers
42,185: Cabs
99,074: Autorickshaws
2,54,118: Other vehicles
45,86,960: Total vehicles
“We are not competing with the metro. The number of private vehicles will reduce due to metro service. This is benefitting PMPML also and our passengers are increasing. The number will increase in the next few days,” said Sachindra Pratap Singh, CMD of PMPML.
