Pune Metro to Temporarily Halt Services After 6 PM Today for Lakshmi Puja, Sparking Public Backlash
The Pune Metro has announced a temporary halt to services after 6 p.m. on Friday, November 1, in observance of Lakshmi Puja. Regular service is set to resume the following morning. Passengers are advised to plan accordingly due to this interruption.
The announcement, shared on the platform X, stated, “Please pay attention!! Important notice for Pune Metro passengers. On the occasion of Lakshmi Puja on Friday, November 1, 2024, Pune Metro services will operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. only. Services will be closed between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. From Saturday, November 2, 2024, services will resume as usual from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. with smooth operation until midnight. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
The decision has sparked criticism both online and offline, with many passengers voicing frustration at the Metro’s timing for the suspension. Daily commuters raised concerns about the impact on their plans during the festive evening.
One user on X commented, “Service shutdown is unacceptable. This is public infrastructure funded by taxpayers, not a private enterprise. Will services shut down for every festival?” Another user suggested, “Public transport should be accessible. At most, reduce frequency rather than a complete shutdown.” A third user expressed, “How can a public transport system just halt? Closures should only be for emergencies.”
