Pune Metro Sees Drop in Passenger Traffic Amid Diwali Holidays; Normalcy Expected Soon
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Pune, November 1 – Pune Metro has reported a significant dip in passenger numbers in recent days, largely attributed to the Diwali holiday season. Daily ridership, which stood at approximately 1.74 lakh on October 26, decreased to around 1.05 lakh by October 29. The decline reflects a shift in commuting habits, as residents take leave for festive celebrations, leading to reduced daily travel.
A senior Pune Metro official explained, “With Diwali, colleges are closed, and many employees have traveled to their hometowns, resulting in fewer riders. We anticipate a return to normal ridership following the Diwali break.” Pune Metro operates two key lines: Line-1, from Pimpri-Chinchwad to Swargate, and Line-2, from Vanaz to Ramwadi. Both lines experienced similar declines. Ridership on Line 1 fell from 77,254 on October 26 to 48,393 by October 29, while Line 2 saw a drop from 83,387 to 57,339 over the same period. Combined, ridership dropped from 1,60,641 on October 26 to 1,05,732 on October 29.
As Diwali celebrations continue, Pune Metro has also announced a temporary adjustment to its schedule. On Friday, November 1, services will run only from 6 am to 6 pm due to Laxmi Poojan. There will be no operations between 6 pm and 10 pm, with regular service resuming on Saturday, November 2, from 6 am to 10 pm.
Pune Metro expects commuting patterns to normalize after the holiday season as residents return to their regular routines, restoring ridership to usual levels.
