Pune Metro Extends Services For Ganesh Festival Commuters
Pune Metro will extend its operating hours during Ganesh festival, running trains until 2 am on key days and offering a 41-hour nonstop service on immersion day, in a move designed to ease festival rush and provide a safer, greener travel alternative for devotees.
The extended service is aimed at diverting thousands of visitors who traditionally throng the city centre during the final week of celebrations. For the first time, the district court to Swargate stretch will be operational during the festival. Newly opened stations at Kasba, Mandai and Swargate are strategically located near the routes of the revered Ganesh idols, giving worshippers direct access without being caught in heavy traffic or unsafe crowding.
According to metro officials, the special schedule will operate from 27 to 29 August between 6 am and 11 pm, while from 30 August to 5 September trains will run until 2 am. On Anant Chaturdashi, when the largest processions take place, services will begin at 6 am and continue non-stop for 41 hours, concluding the next night at 11 pm. This will be the longest continuous metro service provided since the network began operations. Authorities emphasised that the initiative is not only about convenience but also about sustainable mobility. By encouraging citizens to use the metro, the city can reduce traffic congestion, limit vehicular pollution, and lower carbon emissions during the high-footfall festival period. Experts note that public transport interventions like these are essential if Indian cities are to balance cultural festivities with the pressing demand for eco-friendly urban living.
In parallel, metro administration has accelerated work on the river bridge near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Udyan station, with plans to open it before the festival. Once complete, the bridge will link Narayan Peth and Shaniwar Peth directly with metro connectivity, further easing pressure on road traffic and offering smooth movement across the core city. Officials also stated that crowd management measures will be reinforced at central stations, including extended staffing and security arrangements, to ensure safe movement of late-night passengers. With footfalls expected to surge past previous years, the metro’s extended schedule is seen as both a safety cushion and an eco-conscious alternative to private vehicles.
Urban planners highlight that Pune’s decision reflects a broader shift towards prioritising public transit in cultural and religious gatherings. By positioning the metro as the preferred travel mode during the state’s largest festival, the city demonstrates how traditional celebrations can align with sustainable mobility goals. As the festive days approach, Pune Metro’s proactive steps are expected to redefine how the city experiences Ganeshotsav—combining cultural devotion with modern, green, and accessible transport solutions.
