Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
IndiGo’s widespread flight cancellations triggered by crew shortages has sent stranded passengers flocking to Pune railway station, causing a sudden spike in demand amid already swelling crowds. Between midnight and 8 am Friday, airport officials reported multiple cancellations of IndiGo arrivals and departures, with grounded planes clogging parking bays and delaying other airlines.
Indian Railways responded nationwide by adding extra coaches to trains, including premium Rajdhani and Shatabdi services, to accommodate the sudden influx of air travellers turning to rails. At Pune station—already handling a jump in daily footfall — there were serpentine queues at ticket counters, platforms witnessed above average footfall , and trains ran packed with last-minute bookings from business travellers to students.
Stranded passengers shared their frustration and relief at the station. IT professional Rahul Deshmukh from Hinjewadi, whose Jodhpur flight got cancelled, waited three hours for a train ticket: “Air tickets shot up to Rs 8,000 overnight; trains saved me and my family of four, but these queues are killing us.”
Student Sonali Kulkarni, heading to Bengaluru for her exams, added, “My IndiGo flight was cancelled — I booked a AC3 tier berth last minute; at least rails run, unlike airlines grounded by their own rules.”
A senior citizen Omkar Patil said, “Weekend family trip derailed by IndiGo. We had to go to Nagpur for a family function and we had booked our tickets way in advance, but this sudden cancellation changed our plans drastically. We won’t reach in time for the planned family event but will reach at least.”
Pune ST stand also witnesses more than regular demand, but trains are our only reliable bet now, said a few commuters. Pune’s Shivajinagar ST Stand also logged above-average demand, amplified by weekend travel.
