Maha Metro explores increasing train frequency to every five minutes on two major routes
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Pune: Two Metro routes, Vanaz-Ramwadi and PCMC-Swargate, will soon have more daily trips to tackle increased commuter footfall, officials told TOI on Wednesday.
The latest assessment by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) has recommended an increase in frequency on both routes, with trains expected to run every five minutes over the next couple of months.
Metro commuters have demanded increased trips before Ganeshotsav, which is slated to be celebrated around the end of Aug. Footfall at Metro stations is likely to increase significantly around this time.
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At present, trains run every seven minutes during peak hours and at a gap of 10 minutes during non-peak hours. However, travellers have observed a heavy rush during peak hours and are demanding either an increase in trips or the addition of more coaches to the current three-coach trains.
A Maha Metro official told TOI, choosing anonymity, "We are already working on technicalities for operating trains at the increased frequency of every five minutes. Attaching more coaches to existing trains will be planned at a later stage."
According to Maha Metro, on average, 1.75 lakh people are travelling daily on both routes. Until a couple of months ago, the average monthly footfall was around 1.5 lakh. Over 52 lakh commuters travelled by Metro in June, which was the highest monthly footfall since the inception of these services.
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Frequent commuters estimated that due to continuous rain for the last one-and-a-half months, coupled with rising traffic jams, more travellers are opting to use the Metro. Karve Road resident Sujit Hande, who works in Kharadi, said he has been travelling to office by Metro for the last couple of months. "So far, the journey has been comfortable. It will be better if the administration operates more trains during morning and evening hours.
Frequency should be increased to every four to five minutes," Hande said.
Another Maha Metro official said, "Metro has advanced technology in place; trains can run every five minutes. The administration successfully operated trains at five-minute intervals during the time when the Palkhi processions passed through Pune."
On the proposal to attach more coaches to existing trains, the official explained that all trains can have six coaches, and even platforms at all Metro stations are equipped for six-coach trains.
"However, there is no immediate plan to operate trains with six coaches," the official admitted.
Order placed for 12 more trains to add to existing fleet of 34
Maha Metro has placed an order for 12 more rakes, citing the proposed expansion of its services towards Katraj and Nigdi. The Metro administration has 34 rakes at present, and with the additional rakes, the fleet's size will reach 46.
The new trains will have three coaches with the provision to add more.
The total cost of procurement is Rs430.53 crore and the delivery of trains will take place in phases.
Pune: Two Metro routes, Vanaz-Ramwadi and PCMC-Swargate, will soon have more daily trips to tackle increased commuter footfall, officials told TOI on Wednesday.
The latest assessment by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) has recommended an increase in frequency on both routes, with trains expected to run every five minutes over the next couple of months.
Metro commuters have demanded increased trips before Ganeshotsav, which is slated to be celebrated around the end of Aug. Footfall at Metro stations is likely to increase significantly around this time.
At present, trains run every seven minutes during peak hours and at a gap of 10 minutes during non-peak hours. However, travellers have observed a heavy rush during peak hours and are demanding either an increase in trips or the addition of more coaches to the current three-coach trains.
A Maha Metro official told TOI, choosing anonymity, "We are already working on technicalities for operating trains at the increased frequency of every five minutes. Attaching more coaches to existing trains will be planned at a later stage."
According to Maha Metro, on average, 1.75 lakh people are travelling daily on both routes. Until a couple of months ago, the average monthly footfall was around 1.5 lakh. Over 52 lakh commuters travelled by Metro in June, which was the highest monthly footfall since the inception of these services.
Frequent commuters estimated that due to continuous rain for the last one-and-a-half months, coupled with rising traffic jams, more travellers are opting to use the Metro. Karve Road resident Sujit Hande, who works in Kharadi, said he has been travelling to office by Metro for the last couple of months. "So far, the journey has been comfortable. It will be better if the administration operates more trains during morning and evening hours.
Frequency should be increased to every four to five minutes," Hande said.
Another Maha Metro official said, "Metro has advanced technology in place; trains can run every five minutes. The administration successfully operated trains at five-minute intervals during the time when the Palkhi processions passed through Pune."
On the proposal to attach more coaches to existing trains, the official explained that all trains can have six coaches, and even platforms at all Metro stations are equipped for six-coach trains.
"However, there is no immediate plan to operate trains with six coaches," the official admitted.
Order placed for 12 more trains to add to existing fleet of 34
Maha Metro has placed an order for 12 more rakes, citing the proposed expansion of its services towards Katraj and Nigdi. The Metro administration has 34 rakes at present, and with the additional rakes, the fleet's size will reach 46.
The new trains will have three coaches with the provision to add more. The total cost of procurement is Rs430.53 crore and the delivery of trains will take place in phases.
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