Commuters have complained of poor cellphone signals at underground stations hampering digital payments
Pune: From five-minute train intervals during peak hours to separate entry-exit gates at Mandai station, Maha Metro will roll out crowd-control measures ahead of Ganeshotsav in its bid to manage an expected commuter surge over the next 15 days, particularly at Mandai, Kasba Peth, Swargate and Civil Court stations. The preparations come on the heels of Dahi Handi , when Pune Metro’s combined ridership across both corridors touched 2.77 lakh on Saturday, a jump of nearly 35,000 passengers compared to 2.44 lakh on Friday. Metro officials expect the real test to come during the final five days of Ganeshotsav, when daily ridership is projected to cross 2.5 lakh commuters.
If the crowd demands it, we will also explore operating services till midnight on peak festival days,” a senior Maha Metro official said. “We will closely monitor hourly footfall across both corridors and accordingly decide on increasing train frequency.
Because of its proximity to major Ganesh pandals and immersion procession routes, among all stations, the officials said, Mandai was expected to record the most festive crowds. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune Stay updated with the latest Pune news.
Crowd-control drills and operational trials are already under way to ensure smoother passenger movement,” the official said. This will help reduce congestion and improve commuter experience,” the official said. The commuters said poor signals often led to payment failures and delays in purchasing digital tickets. Trials are being conducted to plug gaps and ensure commuters do not face difficulties while making online payments during Ganeshotsav,” another official said.
“The separate entry-exit arrangement that was successfully deployed on Dahi Handi could be rolled out again if crowds swell. Another official urged commuters not to crowd Mandai station. “People can use nearby stations like PMC, Kasba Peth, Swargate and Civil Court to board trains. Even as Metro authorities push commuters towards online ticketing to reduce queues at counters, regular passengers have flagged a persistent problem — weak cellphone network connectivity at underground stations like Mandai and Swargate. Some also demanded additional ticket kiosks to handle the expected festive rush. Maha Metro, however, assured passengers that corrective measures were under way. “There were network-related issues, but we have coordinated with service providers to improve signal strength at underground stations. Ganapati idols for homes allowed In a relief for devotees, Maha Metro has clarified that Ganesh idols meant for home installations could be carried in Metro trains. Officials, however, warned passengers against carrying prohibited items like matchboxes, firecrackers, knives and other sharp or hazardous objects, which would not be permitted inside Metro premises or trains. Download the TOI App.