Pune Metro Set to Run Trains Every 5 Minutes on Two Busy Routes Amid Rising Demand
Pune Metro Set to Run Trains Every 5 Minutes on Two Busy Routes Amid Rising Demand
As Pune’s Metro continues to become the preferred choice for daily commuters, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) is now considering a major upgrade to improve passenger convenience — reducing the wait time between trains to just five minutes on its two busiest routes: Vanaz-Ramwadi and PCMC-Swargate.
This move comes in response to a noticeable spike in ridership over recent months, with daily footfall reaching approximately 1.75 lakh passengers — up from the previous 1.5 lakh. The upward trend peaked in June, which recorded an all-time high of 52 lakh commuters in a single month, signaling the need for more frequent services to ease crowding, especially during rush hours.
At present, Pune Metro trains operate every seven minutes during peak hours and every ten minutes during non-peak periods. However, the growing congestion at stations — particularly during morning and evening rush hours — has prompted commuters to demand more frequent services. With Ganeshotsav approaching at the end of August, footfall is expected to rise even further, adding urgency to these upgrades.
According to a report by The Times of India (TOI), a senior Maha Metro official, requesting anonymity, confirmed that the technical groundwork is already underway to reduce the interval between Metro trains to just five minutes. “The system is fully equipped to operate at this frequency, and we’ve already run trains at five-minute intervals during the Palkhi processions without any issues,” the official noted.
Regular commuters have expressed support for the move, saying it’s long overdue. Rajat Deshmukh, Karve Road resident who travels daily to Kharadi for work, shared his experience: “The Metro has been a great alternative to getting stuck in traffic, but recently the crowd during peak hours has been overwhelming. Increasing the frequency to every four or five minutes, especially during office rush, would really help.”
While talks about increasing the number of coaches per train are also on the table, Maha Metro officials clarified that this step will be taken in a later phase. The current trains consist of three coaches each, but all Pune Metro stations have platforms built to accommodate six-coach trains. “There is no immediate plan to start operating six-coach trains, but the infrastructure is ready for that whenever the decision is made,” an official confirmed.
To further support future expansion and service improvement, Maha Metro has placed an order for 12 new train rakes, which will be added to the existing fleet of 34. These new rakes, costing a total of ₹430.53 crore, will also come with three coaches initially, with provisions made for expansion if needed. The new trains will be delivered in phases and will assist in the proposed Metro extensions towards Katraj and Nigdi.
The push to shorten intervals between trains isn’t just about convenience — it reflects Pune’s changing urban mobility needs. With persistent rains and growing traffic congestion, more people are turning to the Metro for a reliable, fast, and eco-friendly commute.
