Pune : In a remarkable development, Pune Metro experienced a substantial surge in ridership in January 2024, with an average daily count of 56,633 passengers. The increase is attributed to strategic operational expansions, enhanced train frequency, and the ongoing efforts to extend the metro network to connect more areas in the city.
Currently, the Pune Metro’s PCMC to Civil Court and Vanaz to Ruby Hall Clinic sections are operational, serving as crucial transit links for the citizens of Pune. The recent expansion, connecting Phugewadi to Civil Court and Garware College to Ruby Hall Clinic, has significantly contributed to the rise in ridership, reaching approximately 55,000 passengers per day.
The detailed breakdown of the average daily passenger counts from August 2023 to January 2024 showcases a consistent upward trend:
- August 2023: 66,032 passengers
- September 2023: 65,542 passengers
- October 2023: 53,987 passengers
- November 2023: 47,292 passengers
- December 2023: 53,268 passengers
- January 2024: 56,633 passengers
In response to the growing demand, Pune Metro took proactive measures in January 2024 by increasing the frequency of trains. During peak hours, the frequency is now 7.5 minutes, while non-peak hours have been reduced to 10 minutes. This is a significant improvement from the previous schedule of 10 minutes during peak hours and 15 minutes during non-peak hours. Additionally, the number of metro train trips has been increased from 161 to 224.
The upcoming completion of the Ruby Hall Clinic metro station to Ramwadi Metro Station stretch is expected to further enhance the connectivity of areas like Bund Garden, Yerwada, Kalyani Nagar, and Ramwadi to the existing metro network, leading to a predicted boost in ridership.
MD Maha Metro expressed satisfaction, stating, “More than one crore Punekars have traveled through the Metro since its commercial operations began. We remain committed to providing first and last-mile connectivity to increase ridership. The improved frequency has significantly reduced wait times for daily commuters on the Metro platforms.”
