Pilot study launched by PKC, Maha-Metro to boost Pune Metro ridership & last-mile connectivity
Led by Priya Nagaraj, CEO of PKC, along with Anita Kane, senior advisor at PKC and project head, the study is being jointly executed by the PKC, Centre for Environment Education (CEE) India, and Save Traffic Movement (STM).
Whereas Maha-Metro managing director Shravan Hardikar said, 'We have tied up with the PKC for this ridership enhancement initiative, which combines behavioural research, community engagement, and infrastructure evaluation. The goal is to better understand why commuters are not opting for the metro, and what changes—such as feeder service alignment, improved infrastructure, or connectivity fixes—can help us change that.'
Nagaraj said that the project has already begun on the ground. 'Pune Metro wants to increase footfalls on existing routes and also prepare for upcoming lines. This includes looking at how to integrate ticketing and last-mile services. We are surveying different user groups along the metro corridor, analysing patterns, and working towards data-backed recommendations,' she said.
For now, the pilot is focused exclusively on the Pune Metro, particularly the aqua line between Vanaz and Garware College metro stations. This corridor cuts across a range of user profiles—from residential zones like Rambha Colony and Shiv Tirth Nagar to student hubs in Kothrud—making it ideal for studying usage trends and commuter pain points.
If successful, the study's findings may be shared with the Mumbai Metro and other metro projects in the state, Nagaraj said.
Multi-channel outreach, on-ground engagement
According to Kane, the campaign goes beyond conventional surveys. 'We are conducting door-to-door consultations, focused group discussions, and event-based surveys—because experience shows that online forms alone get poor response. We are not only talking to commuters but also to rickshaw drivers, vendors, students, and carpool users. In Vanaz for instance, carpool users from Bavdhan are parking in residential lanes, leading to friction. We are studying such patterns to find inclusive solutions.'
One of the key objectives is to recommend viable options to improve first-mile and last-mile access. This could involve dedicated pink autos, shared rides, mini-vans, footpath upgrades, or additional Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus routes.
'Metro Month' to be held in city in October/November 2025
As part of the study, a special one-month campaign tentatively titled 'Metro Month' will be held in the city in October or November this year during which the team will test the proposed solutions. The campaign will also include social media promotion, targeted outreach, and efforts to boost commuter confidence and awareness.
Kane said, ''Metro Month' will act as a live experiment. If something works—say, a feeder service or service frequency tweak—it could become permanent. For instance, we have already noticed that stations like Anand Nagar are crowded during peak hours. One suggestion under discussion is increasing metro frequency at those times.'
Kane said that the study avoids a one-size-fits-all approach. 'Each locality has unique challenges. Our recommendations will reflect ground realities. If this pilot works, it can serve as a replicable model across the city and state,' she said.
Citizens' response
Commuters have welcomed the initiative. Shraddha Rathi, a resident of Model Colony, said, 'Right now, it's either a long walk or an expensive rickshaw to get to the metro. If they bring in shared autos or mini-vans, it will make a real difference.'
Nikhil Deshmukh, a student from Kothrud, said, 'The metro is efficient but getting there is a challenge. Better connectivity and awareness could make more students ditch their two-wheelers.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Purple Line: Nepal team discusses consulate shift
Kolkata: Representatives from the Nepal govt flew in on Thursday to discuss shifting their Kolkata address to facilitate Metro's Purple Line project. The team, led by the joint secretary of Nepal's ministry of foreign affairs Surendra Yadav, visited a day after the Calcutta High Court cleared a major hurdle relating to the Purple Line's ramp construction at Ekbalpore. The division bench, comprising Justices Debanshu Basak and Prasenjit Biswas, on Wednesday dismissed the appeal of tenants of City Properties at 1, National Library Avenue, on the DH Road-Ekbalpore crossing so that the Nepal Consulate next door could be relocated there. Around 60 m of the Purple Line's 450-m ramp will be constructed next to the existing Nepal Consulate premises on 7/1, DH Road. RVNL on Thursday presented to the Nepal govt representatives the plan to build a three-storey building after razing the ramshackle City Properties structure. The land will then be used for utility diversion and widening of the western side of Diamond Harbour Road. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Delhi man sells Rs 55 lakh SUV for a ‘throwaway price' due to… : ‘Penalty on common sense'
A Delhi resident, Ritesh Gandotra, recently had to part ways with his luxury Range Rover SUV–not by choice, but because of the National Capital Region's strict enforcement of the 10-year diesel vehicle ban. Gandotra, who bought the high-end car in 2018 for Rs 55 lakh, said it had been 'meticulously maintained,' and had just 74,000 km on the odometer. The SUV had also spent nearly two years idle during the Covid-19 pandemic-induced lockdowns, meaning it still had plenty of life left in it. 'Easily over two lakh km,' he claimed. But under Delhi's current End-of-Life (EoL) policy, diesel vehicles older than ten years must be deregistered–regardless of condition. That left Gandotra with no option but to sell it outside the NCR at what he called 'throwaway prices.' He voiced his frustration on X, writing: 'This isn't a green policy. It's a penalty on responsible ownership and common sense.' यह मेरी 8 साल पुरानी डीजल Range Rover कार है। यह अब तक मात्र 74,000 किलोमीटर चली है। Covid के दौरान यह 2 साल तक खड़ी रही, अब दिल्ली में 10 साल से ज़्यादा की डीजल कार पर बैन के कारण मुझे यह बेचनी पड़ेगी, जबकि अभी यह Car आराम से 2 लाख किलोमीटर और भी चल सकती है, मगर अब मैं इसे… — Jaiky Yadav (@JaikyYadav16) July 2, 2025 Though Gandotra later deleted the post, it had already sparked widespread discussion. Several users on social media weighed in, echoing his concerns. One user commented, 'The government's rule is very wrong. No matter how old a vehicle gets, if the maintenance is proper, it can run for 50 years.' Another pointed to the financial hit car owners take under this policy, saying, 'Selling an old but well-maintained car and paying a hefty tax on a new one — this is the irony of Delhi-NCR's diesel policy.' Others brought up broader urban planning issues. 'If you really want to make Delhi clean and pollution-free, build a system where people don't need a personal vehicle,' one user suggested. 'Just imagine Delhi without the Metro — we'd be suffocating under traffic and pollution.'
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Heavy vehicle operators launch indefinite strike; school transport unions give 48-hour deadline
Goods transporters across Maharashtra launched an indefinite strike at midnight on Tuesday, bringing the movement of trucks, tempos, tankers, and trailers to a halt. The strike threatens to disrupt essential supply chains, with heavy vehicle operators refusing to back down until the state government addresses their long-pending demands. A high-level meeting held at Mantralaya on Tuesday yielded no breakthrough. (HT) Passenger transporters, including school buses and private travel unions, have temporarily stayed out of the strike following an assurance from transport minister Pratap Sarnaik of a meeting with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis within two days. However, they have warned they will join the agitation if no resolution is reached. The strike, called by the Maharashtra State Goods and Passenger Transport Association, comes after failed negotiations with the state government. A high-level meeting held at Mantralaya on Tuesday yielded no breakthrough. 'With basic demands pending for over six weeks, the government has left us no choice,' said Baba Shinde, president of the association. 'We submitted a memorandum on June 16 and even observed a hunger strike at Azad Maidan till June 29. Despite assurances, nothing concrete has happened.' Shinde added that while the government reached out to school and private transporters, heavy goods operators received no direct communication. 'The strike will continue until our issues are resolved.' Among the key demands are simplification of transport regulations, clarity on toll collection mechanisms, and pending subsidies. The impact of the strike is already being felt. Disruptions in the supply of grains, vegetables, milk, flowers, and medicines are expected if the deadlock continues. Construction, infrastructure, and industrial activities, including Metro and Smart City projects, are also likely to suffer delays. Anil Garg, president of the Maharashtra School Bus Owners Association, said, 'We have given the government a 48-hour window. If the CM fails to act, school transporters across the state will join the protest. We stand in full solidarity with the heavy vehicle unions.' A meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is scheduled for later today (July 2) to address the transporters' concerns.
