Photo Courtesy: Pune Metro Rail/ X

By Tejas

Pune, September 15, 2024: The Pune Metro experienced a record-breaking surge in ridership on Saturday, as thousands of people travelled to the Pune city to participate in the Ganesh festival. With close to two lakh passengers utilising the metro, it marked the highest daily ridership of Pune Metro to date since it began operation.

Residents from suburban areas such as Kothrud, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Ramwadi made up the bulk of commuters. The rush began in the afternoon and peaked by evening, resulting in packed trains and bustling stations. To manage the surge, metro services on the Vanaz-Ramwadi and Pimpri-Shivajinagar Court routes were extended until midnight.

From 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., over 1.75 lakh commuters were recorded, with the Vanaz-Shivajinagar Court route accounting for nearly 60% of the total footfall. Other key routes, including Pimpri-Shivajinagar Court and Ramwadi-Shivajinagar Court, also saw heavy traffic. Major stations like Shivajinagar Court, Deccan Gymkhana, and Sambhaji Garden emerged as crucial hubs for those attending the celebrations in the city centre.

Many commuters opted to park at suburban metro stations to avoid the city’s parking chaos. Notably, this surge surpassed the previous record of 1,99,600 passengers set during the Ashadhi Ekadashi festival.

Metro officials announced extended hours through the ongoing Ganeshotsav celebrations. Services will run until midnight on Sunday, September 15, and on Ganesh Visarjan day, continuous service will be provided from 6 a.m. Tuesday, September 17, to 10 p.m. Wednesday, September 18, to meet the high demand of passengers during festivities.