Pune Commuters Slam Parking Chaos Outside Nashik Phata Metro Station
Mounting frustration over haphazard and unregulated two-wheeler parking outside Nashik Phata Metro Station has sparked public criticism, as commuters call out authorities for compromising pedestrian access and safety. Located on the Purple Line connecting Pimpri-Chinchwad to Swargate, the station has become a choke point where parked vehicles block entry and exit paths. Commuters now warn that the lack of dedicated parking infrastructure and proper regulation could lead to safety hazards during emergencies or peak hours.
Photographs circulating online show two-wheelers crammed at key access points, including the entrance from the Kasarwadi Railway Station lift. The absence of designated parking areas has forced riders to leave their vehicles anywhere they find space, including narrow footpaths and pedestrian zones. Commuters argue that in its rush to expand the metro network, authorities failed to integrate last-mile considerations such as vehicular drop-off zones and pedestrian-friendly corridors. Residents have also pointed to poor planning in and around the station, with several voicing concern over how emergency evacuations would be managed in the current layout. Transit planners and civic experts note that the Nashik Phata situation reflects a broader problem facing Indian metro systems—expanding infrastructure without complementary urban design. Despite being operational for over two years, many stations across Pune’s metro network still lack safe, organised parking areas.
Officials from the transit authority have yet to announce clear solutions, raising concerns about the project’s alignment with urban mobility goals. The current disorder not only hampers ease of access for commuters but also creates bottlenecks that could undermine the reliability and safety of the metro system itself. While authorities are yet to respond publicly to commuter complaints, a separate infrastructure boost is nearing completion nearby. A 105-metre-long cable-stayed pedestrian bridge connecting Chhatrapati Sambhaji Udyan Metro Station to densely populated areas such as Laxmi Road and Kumthekar Road is expected to open next month. Though this bridge is being hailed as a much-needed effort to enhance last-mile pedestrian connectivity, the juxtaposition with Nashik Phata’s chaos highlights the uneven execution of the metro city’s broader transit vision. Commuters and city planners alike stress that such investments must be backed by equally strong planning around accessibility and commuter comfort.
As Pune pushes forward with expanding its metro footprint, public feedback around accessibility and infrastructure gaps must be treated with urgency. The city’s urban mobility ecosystem cannot rely solely on trains and tracks; it must include seamless access, safe pathways, and designated parking facilities that prevent conflict between vehicles and pedestrians. Without such foresight, the promise of clean, sustainable, and equitable public transit remains half-fulfilled. The situation at Nashik Phata serves as a call for more integrated, commuter-first station planning across the city’s growing metro network.
