Pune Metro plans to run trains every five minutes during peak hours after completing trials on both of its operating corridors, a move expected to improve services for commuters travelling during the morning and evening rush.
The update was provided by Shravan Hardikar, chairman and managing director of MahaMetro, according to a report published by Loksatta on September 9. Trials for the Vanaz–Ramwadi corridor have been completed, while testing is under way on the Swargate–Pimpri-Chinchwad corridor.
Until the testing process is completed, MahaMetro will continue operating trains at six-minute intervals during peak hours. The proposed five-minute frequency will apply between 8 am and 11 am in the morning and from 4 pm to 8 pm in the evening, the periods identified as having the highest passenger demand.
Pune Metro currently operates at six-minute intervals during peak periods and at 10-minute intervals during non-peak hours. MahaMetro said the change is being planned to accommodate the growing number of passengers using the system.
Average daily ridership has crossed 250,000 in recent days. During the past week, 1,783,939 passengers travelled on the network, generating revenue of Rs 2.71 crore, according to the figures cited in the report. On Saturday, September 5, the system recorded its highest single-day ridership so far, with approximately 277,000 passengers.
The proposed change will require the trials on the Swargate–Pimpri-Chinchwad corridor to be completed before the five-minute peak-hour schedule can begin across the relevant services. MahaMetro has not specified an implementation date in the information available.
The operator has also announced changes to service timings during Ganeshotsav. For the first three days of the festival, trains will run until 11 pm as usual. Services will then continue until midnight, while trains will operate around the clock on the immersion day. During the festival period, peak-hour services will continue to run at six-minute intervals under the existing arrangement.
MahaMetro’s five-minute frequency plan will therefore be introduced after corridor-level testing is completed, while the present six-minute peak-hour schedule remains in force. The operator’s next stated step is to complete trials on the Swargate–Pimpri-Chinchwad route.
