Pune residents are glad about metro connectivity at Shivajinagar, where scores of schools, colleges, government offices, courts and historical places are located. WHILE commuters from Pimpri-Chinchwad are delighted at the prospect of Pune Metro services finally connecting them to Pune city after May 15, they have a slew of demands which includes cheaper tickets and increased frequency of trains.
“We have heard the metro will soon connect Pimpri to Shivajinagar. Despite repeated promises by MahaMetro, we are yet to see the service materialise. It is indeed a heartening development if it is happening,” said advocate Sushil Mancharkar.
Shivajinagar is the hub of Pune city, where scores of schools, colleges, government offices, courts and historical places are located. People, not only from Pimpri-Chinchwad but also from across Pune district, converge at Shivajinagar for several purposes including shopping.
Listing his demands, Mancharkar said Pune Metro will find more acceptability if ticket rates are kept reasonable. “So far, commuters have heard that tickets to Shivajinagar will be expensive. In such a case, people will prefer PMPML buses and local trains,” he said.
Agnes Paul, a college principal, said, “If the metro is indeed coming till Shivajinagar, it will be this year’s biggest development. Once the service begins, I hope that office goers, lawyers, and students will travel by metro which will decongest traffic on Pune-Mumbai highway. One hopes that especially, there will be fewer two-wheelers on roads. It is mostly youngsters who use two-wheelers, which are unsafe, and the Metro will be faster and safer till Shivajinagar.”
Activist Sachin Godambe said he was glad it is finally happening. “But I suggest that MahaMetro reduce ticket rates by 50 per cent for females. Unlike jam-packed buses which are unsafe for womenfolk, the metro will offer quicker and safer rides. More women will prefer the Metro if tickets are cheaper.”
Prajakata Kale, who works with a private firm, said,”I travel to Pune city on a two-wheeler almost every two-three days, and I have to bear with long traffic jams on Pune-Mumbai highway. Moreover, there is the fear of accidents and losing one’s life and limbs. For people like me, the metro service to Shivajinagar is a big relief and I will surely travel by metro. But I don’t know what ticket rates will be and whether seats will be reserved for women. Ticket rates will determine if Metro is to be the first choice.”
Rutuja Marale, a youngster who lives in Pimpri-Chinchwad but works in Pune city, said, “I don’t think metro will work for me as I use the Khadki-Yerawada route for office. I travel by a two-wheeler which is not safe. Metro should also connect Khadki bazaar and Yerawada.”
Sheetal Mahankale, a teacher, said it was a heartening development. “But MahaMetro has not announced anything about Nigdi. I live in Kalewadi and have to travel by auto or bus. It is very time consuming and costly. If the Metro connects Nigdi, it will benefit people living in Nigdi, Chinchwad, Kalbhornagar and Akurdi.”
When asked about ticket rates, MahaMetro spokesperson Hemant Sonawane said tickets rates have been kept reasonable and affordable. “From Pimpri to Civil Court, tickets will cost Rs 25, which is similar to PMPML bus ticket rates. And if commuters take another train from the inter-change station to, say, Ruby Hall from Civil Court, the ticket will be only Rs 10. “Regarding frequency of trains, Sonawane said that initially a rake will be available every half an hour and later on, after every 15 minutes.