From 4,000 to 30,000: Metro ridership shoots up over 7 times

“In six hours on Tuesday, both the stretches collectively recorded a ridership of 12,500. While 7,500 commuters travelled on the Garware College to Ruby Hall Clinic route, 5,000 commuters used the Metro on the Pimpri to Shivajinagar stretch,” MahaMetro chairman and managing director Shravan Hardikar told this paper.

A day after the inauguration on Wednesday, the situation changed drastically as both the stretches collectively recorded a ridership of more than 30,000 till 9 pm. “The maximum ridership was on the Vanaz to Ruby Hall Clinic route where 19,500 commuters used the service. On the Pimpri-Shivajinagar civil court route, 10,500 commuters used the service,” Hardikar said.

Officials said Tuesday was just the first day of the Metro service and daily commuters were not fully aware about the rollout of the Metro on the new stretches. “But on Wednesday, the more than seven times jump indicates that in future, there would be a record jump in ridership. We will have to wait for at least a month to gauge the response,” said Hardikar.

As for increasing the timing of Metro service, Hardikar said, “We will take a call regarding increasing the timing after seeing the response. If in the evening, there is an overwhelming crowd, we will increase the timing. On the inaugural day, we ran the service up to 11pm, otherwise the timing is till 10 pm.”

Regarding concessions for college students, Hardikar said,”Metro is offering 30 per cent concessions to college students. They have to show their identity cards to avail the concession.”

Meanwhile, some commuters, especially college-goers, who took the Metro to travel from Pimpri, Sant Tukaram, Kasarwadi, Dapodi to Shivajinagar were disappointed.

“The Metro train stopped at Shivajinagar first. When I stepped out, I saw the local train station was a stone’s throw away. This means, there is no difference between Metro and local trains run by the Central Railways. Both have the same stop at Shivajinagar. But the Metro rates upto Shivajinagar are on the higher side than the local trains…Why should I travel by Metro then?” asked Aryan Garande, a college student.

Rutuja Marale, who took a ride up to Shivajinagar Civil Court, said, “When I came out of the Civil Court station, there was pitch darkness. Not a single police personnel or security person was around. There was hardly anyone outside the station. I think the spot where the Civil Court station has been set up is wrong. There is no security for women.” A few women commuters voiced the same concern.”We have taken cognisance of this grievance and will take up the matter with the police,” said Hardikar.

However, office-goers and daily commuters who have to travel on their two-wheelers are ecstatic. “Now, whenever I have to travel from Pimpri to Pune, I will always take the Metro instead of taking out my two-wheeler,” said Deepak Pardeshi, a resident of Nehrunagar.

Advocate Sushil Mancharkar, while welcoming the extended route from Pimpri to Shivajinagar, said, “For advocates living in Pimpri-Chinchwad, the new route is a big relief. Now, we will no longer have to be stuck in traffic on the Phugewadi-Dapodi-Bopodi-Khadki stretch.”

“Day by day, the traffic situation on the Pune-Mumbai highway was worsening. These days, it takes up to two hours to reach Shivajinagar from Pimpri, which otherwise should take 20-25 minutes by bus or two-wheeler. Now, we will be able to reach Shivajinagar in just 25 minutes by Metro,” said Mancharkar.