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The Pune Metro witnessed a remarkable increase in ridership during September 2024, marking a significant milestone in the city's public transportation system. This surge, a staggering 25% compared to the previous month, can be attributed to the opening of the new Civil Court to Swargate line and the coinciding Ganesh festival celebrations.
In August, the daily average ridership stood at over 1.18 lakh passengers. However, September saw a remarkable rise, with the daily average reaching 1,53,971 passengers. This translates to a total ridership of 46,19,130 for the entire month. The increased ridership was not only reflected in passenger numbers but also in the revenue generated. Pune Metro brought in Rs 7.06 crore in September, averaging Rs 23.56 lakh per day.
Maha Metro managing director, Shravan Hardikar, highlighted the significant role of the new underground corridor connecting Civil Court to Swargate. He emphasized the importance of this connection in bridging the gap between the twin cities of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, offering passengers substantial travel time savings. This new line has facilitated direct travel from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to Swargate, a major transportation hub in Pune.
The data also reveals interesting trends in passenger demographics. While 35% of commuters opted for the PCMC to Swargate corridor, 65% chose the Ramwadi to Vanaz route. Regarding payment methods, 74.71% of passengers embraced digital payment options, reflecting a shift towards cashless transactions. Only 25.29% opted for cash payment. The completion of Phase 1, culminating in the inauguration of the Pune Metro corridor from District Court to Swargate on September 29 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in boosting ridership.
The success of the Pune Metro's Phase 1 not only reflects a positive development in public transportation but also demonstrates the growing demand for efficient and reliable commuting options within the city. This surge in ridership serves as a strong indication of the public's confidence in the metro as a preferred mode of transport. The Pune Metro's future expansion plans are likely to benefit significantly from this positive trend, further enhancing the city's overall transportation network and contributing to its sustainable growth.
Source: As first phase of Pune Metro gets complete, ridership jumps by 25% in September