Pune Metro saw an unprecedented number of passengers, as large crowds flocked to the central city to view the public Ganesh mandal displays on Saturday (September 14).
Citizens from Kothrud, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Ramwadi, and other suburban areas contributed to the record-breaking day, with nearly two lakh passengers using the metro.
The rush began in the afternoon, and by evening, metro coaches were filled to capacity, while stations buzzed with activity. The metro operates on the Vanaz to Ramwadi and Pimpri to Shivajinagar Court routes, with over 1.75 lakh passengers traveling between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. alone. Metro services were extended until midnight to accommodate the surge.
The Vanaz to Shivajinagar Court route accounted for around 60% of the day's passenger traffic, with other routes like Pimpri to Shivajinagar Court and Ramwadi to Shivajinagar Court also witnessing heavy footfall.
Passengers were seen alighting at major city stations like Shivajinagar Court, Deccan Gymkhana, and Sambhaji Garden to reach the central Ganesh festival zones. Many travelers parked their vehicles near suburban metro stations and took the metro into the city to avoid parking hassles.
This Saturday surpassed the previous record of 1,99,600 passengers set during the Ashadhi Ekadashi festival. Metro officials confirmed that this new milestone further highlights the growing popularity of the metro service during festivals.
Extended Metro Services During Ganesh Visarjan
In light of the Ganeshotsav celebrations, metro services have been extended. On Sunday, September 15, the metro will run until midnight, and if necessary, the service will continue beyond this time if there is a significant passenger flow.
Since loudspeakers are permitted until midnight, the metro schedule may be extended to accommodate the returning crowds. Furthermore, on Ganesh Visarjan day (Tuesday, September 17), the metro will start at 6 a.m. and run continuously until 10 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18, providing over 24 hours of uninterrupted service during the immersion processions.