Pune’s Pink Line Metro recorded 50,000 passenger journeys on its first day of operations, signalling strong early demand on the newly launched Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar corridor even as offices and commercial establishments remained largely closed for the Diwali holidays.
The 23-km corridor began operations on Wednesday, November 4. According to passenger data cited in the report, more than 20,000 passengers used Pune Metro and Maha Metro services through interchange facilities during the day.
District Court Metro station was the busiest station on the new corridor, handling around 25,000 passengers. The station is a key interchange point, connecting the Pink Line with Pune railway station and other parts of the city. Its early performance highlights the importance of interchange stations in linking new metro infrastructure with existing rail and urban travel networks.
The passenger figures included 11,460 commuters who travelled on Pune Metro, while 8,969 passengers transferred from Pune Metro to Maha Metro. Another 8,969 passengers travelled in the opposite direction, from Maha Metro to Pune Metro. Maha Metro recorded total ridership of 2.73 lakh on the same day.
The initial demand was recorded during the Diwali holiday period, when many offices and commercial establishments were closed. The Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar corridor is expected to serve office workers, particularly those travelling between Pune’s major information technology and central-city areas. The journey across the 23-km route is expected to take around 40 minutes.
The response also provides an early indication of how the Pink Line may function within Pune’s wider public transport system rather than as a standalone corridor. The interchange movements reported on the first day show passengers using connections between metro services and the existing network, while District Court station appears to be performing a central role in that integration.
In response to expected higher ridership after the Diwali holidays, service frequency on the Pink Line will be increased. Trains are scheduled to operate every five minutes during peak hours and every eight minutes during non-peak hours.
Passengers also welcomed the National Common Mobility Card facility, which allows commuters to travel across all Pune Metro corridors using a single card. The system is intended to simplify travel across the network by reducing the need for separate payment arrangements when passengers change corridors.
The next operational milestone will be the increase in Pink Line train frequency after the Diwali holidays, as the corridor moves from its opening-day demand pattern towards regular weekday travel.
