The Pune Metro has significantly reduced travel time for commuters across key areas of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, offering a traffic-free mode of transportation. Despite its benefits, the metro system faces challenges in providing seamless last-mile connectivity to passengers.
The expansion of metro lines has improved access to important destinations such as the Pune RTO, district and sessions courts, Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, and the Pune railway station. The aqua line, spanning from Vanaz to Ruby Hall Clinic, offers passengers a scenic view of the city and its landmarks.
While ridership has increased since the launch of the extended metro lines, some commuters feel that the lack of last-mile connectivity hampers the full potential of the metro system. Direct access to some stations, especially those located on the left bank of the Mutha river, remains challenging for pedestrians. The Pune Municipal Corporation has initiated feeder buses and partnered with autorickshaw unions to enhance connectivity, but these efforts are limited to specific areas.
The convenience of the metro is evident for various commuters. A student from Chikhali, Lokesh Wagh, used to spend an hour traveling to Maharashtra Vidyapeeth in Sadashiv Peth. With the metro, his travel time has been reduced to 35 minutes. Similarly, an IT professional, Aditya Mujumdar, shared his positive experience of using the metro to reach his office in the Vanaz area, saving both time and money compared to other modes of transport.
However, challenges persist, particularly in the form of last-mile connectivity. Some stations lack marked crossing areas, forcing pedestrians to navigate busy roads to access the stations. Moreover, the absence of parking facilities at stations and frequent feeder services impedes the overall convenience for passengers.
In the pursuit of enhancing the metro experience, suggestions have been put forward, such as improving signboards directing commuters to metro stations and establishing bridges and parking lots to connect the stations. To maximize the potential of the metro system, passengers emphasize the importance of increasing the frequency of trains to facilitate a more efficient and seamless commute.
The Pune Metro has undoubtedly improved the daily commute for many residents, but addressing last-mile connectivity gaps and other challenges remains crucial to ensuring that the metro system becomes the preferred mode of transportation for a broader spectrum of the population.
