Pune Metro has reversed its ban on carrying bicycles on the 23.2-kilometre Line 3 between Maan-Hinjewadi and Shivajinagar Civil Court, allowing passengers to take bicycles into stations and metro coaches. The decision follows opposition from IT employees, cyclists and other Pune residents who said the restriction made it harder to complete the last-mile journey from the metro to offices and homes.
The corridor, also known as the Pink Line, was opened with a rule that prohibited bicycles. Civic Mirror reported on November 6 on the difficulties faced by cyclists and IT-sector employees travelling through Hinjewadi. Following the public response and media coverage, Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited, or PITCMRL, reviewed the rule and officially withdrew the ban.
Under the revised arrangement, bicycles will be permitted on the Line 3 system provided they do not inconvenience other passengers or obstruct metro operations. The decision brings Line 3 into line with Maha Metro-operated Line 1 between Pimpri and Swargate and Line 2 between Vanaz and Ramwadi, where passengers have been allowed to carry bicycles since 2021.
PITCMRL chief financial officer Mitul Zaveri said the initial restriction was based on an estimate that only 10 to 12 passengers would bring bicycles each day. The administration had initially prioritised the safety and convenience of other passengers, but later reassessed the decision after considering public demand, media discussion and the expected proportion of bicycle users within the overall ridership.
The reversal is particularly relevant for employees working in Hinjewadi, where many commuters need to travel an additional two to four kilometres between a metro station and their workplace or home. Cyclists and daily passengers had questioned why the city’s existing metro lines permitted bicycles while the line serving a major technology hub imposed a complete ban.
The new rule also affects passengers travelling towards the Balewadi Sports Complex and other destinations along the corridor. Pune Metro recorded 50,000 passengers on the first day of the new line, including 25,000 arrivals at Civil Court station, according to the report.
Allowing bicycles creates a formal bicycle-and-metro travel option for journeys that are too long to walk but short enough to cycle. It also gives passengers an alternative to autos, taxis and private two-wheelers for the station-to-destination leg. The practical impact will depend on how the rule is implemented inside stations and coaches, particularly during crowded periods, but the operating authority has said that bicycle access will be managed without disrupting other passengers or metro services.
The policy change means bicycles are now permitted across all Pune Metro lines. PITCMRL has said it will proceed with the revised arrangement after its review of passenger demand and operational considerations.
