Over 17,000 commuters avail 30% Pune metro fare concession over weekend
The newly extended routes of the Pune metro saw a surge in ridership, with over 17,000 commuters taking advantage of a 30% fare concession over the weekend. The metro's overall ridership crossed the 60,000 to 70,000 mark within six days of the launch. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) station recorded the highest ridership with 16,238 passengers. The metro is expected to witness continued growth in ridership in the coming days.
The recently inaugurated extended routes of the Pune metro witnessed a significant surge in ridership, with over 17,000 commuters taking advantage of the 30% fare concession offered over the weekend.
The extended stretches – Garware College to Ruby Hall Clinic and Phugewadi to Civil Court – attracted umpteen passengers, contributing to the metro’s overall ridership which crossed the 60,000 to 70,000 mark within six days of the launch, according to the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro). The extended routes were flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 1. The 30% concession in fares offered to citizens over the weekend was instrumental in ratcheting up the ridership. While the Garware College to Ruby Hall Clinic stretch garnered a more positive response than the Phugewadi to Civil Court stretch, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) station witnessed maximum ridership with 16,238 passengers recorded.
Hemant Sonawane, public relations officer (PRO) of the Maha-Metro, expressed satisfaction with the response from commuters and said that the ridership will soon surpass the one lakh mark. He attributed the increased weekend ridership to the 30% fare concession and credited the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) feeder bus service for the growth in ridership. Sonawane said that the Pune metro has received an overwhelming response from the public, and with ongoing efforts to improve services, it is expected to witness continued growth in ridership in the coming days.
Following the inauguration of the extended routes, the Maha-Metro commenced operations on both of them the same evening. Whereas the PMPML started a feeder bus service the next day, connecting various locations along the PCMC to Civil Court metro corridor. During inauguration of the extended routes, the Maha-Metro announced a 30% discount on fares for students and for all citizens on Saturdays and Sundays. Additionally, metro card holders would enjoy a 10% discount, with metro cards to be made available soon.
The metro fares vary between ₹10 and ₹35, depending on the distance. The journey from PCMC to Vanaz takes approximately 40 minutes and the fare for the same is ₹35. The fare from PCMC to Ruby Hall Clinic is ₹30 whereas the fare from Vanaz to Ruby Hall Clinic is ₹35.
