Metro Ridership in Nagpur Increases by 47% on Cricket Match Day
On February 6, 2025, as cricket fans flocked to Nagpur for an exciting match at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, the city’s metro system experienced a significant surge in ridership. Thousands of cricket enthusiasts opted for the metro over road transport, resulting in a 47% increase in commuter traffic across four key stations. The dramatic rise in ridership came as part of Nagpur Metro’s efforts to provide a smooth and hassle-free transport option on busy match days. The metro stations that witnessed the highest increase in traffic included New Airport, Airport, South Airport, and Khapri stations. Collectively, these four stations saw the number of commuters rise from 5,238 on February 5 to 7,706 on match day.
Among these, the New Airport Metro Station recorded the most significant increase, with commuter numbers soaring by an astounding 242%. Daily ridership jumped from 620 to 2,124, highlighting the metro’s popularity as a reliable and efficient mode of transport for those heading to the stadium. South Airport also saw a substantial increase in commuters, rising from 677 to 1,201, while Khapri, a central transit hub, saw a modest rise from 3,288 to 3,640. This surge in ridership was largely driven by cricket fans seeking an alternative to the usual road transport, which tends to be congested on match days. With the ease of accessing the stadium without worrying about traffic jams or parking, the metro provided a practical solution.
For many fans, taking the metro to the stadium proved to be a stress-free experience. “Instead of struggling with traffic and parking, I took the metro and reached the stadium on time. It was smooth and stress-free,” shared a cricket fan who boarded from Sitabuldi and alighted at New Airport Station. Similarly, Anurrag Jha, another fan travelling from Chitar Oli metro station, praised the efficiency of the metro, saying, “The metro was the best choice to avoid traffic jams near the stadium. The trains were on time, and the shuttle service made the journey seamless.” To further enhance the travel experience for spectators, Nagpur Metro extended its services until 11:30 pm and operated special shuttle buses in collaboration with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). These shuttle buses ferried passengers between the New Airport Metro Station and the VCA Stadium, ensuring that fans could reach the stadium without the usual hassle of waiting in long traffic queues.
Despite the overall success of the metro system on match day, there were some hiccups due to confusion among a few passengers. Several fans mistakenly assumed that Khapri station was the closest to the stadium and got off there. However, they later realised that New Airport station was better connected to the stadium through the shuttle service. MahaMetro officials noted that many of these passengers had to return to New Airport station to catch the shuttle buses, which caused minor delays. This highlighted the need for clearer signage and better commuter awareness to avoid such confusion in the future. The 47% increase in ridership on match day is a clear indicator of the growing popularity of the metro in Nagpur, especially during high-traffic events. With Nagpur’s metro network expanding, it is expected that more and more people will opt for metro travel as a reliable and efficient transport option. The combination of punctuality, convenience, and affordability makes the metro an ideal choice for commuters looking to avoid the chaos of road traffic, particularly on match days when the city is buzzing with excitement. Nagpur Metro’s successful handling of the 47% increase in ridership on February 6, 2025, is a testament to the city’s evolving transport infrastructure. The smooth and efficient transport system played a key role in ensuring that cricket fans could reach the VCA Stadium without the usual stress and hassle of road congestion. As the metro network grows and improves, it is poised to become the go-to mode of transport for the city’s residents and visitors alike.
