Pune Metro to Run Trains Every 5 Minutes on Vanaz-Ramwadi, PCMC-Swargate Routes
Pune, 10th July 2025: In response to a steady rise in ridership, Maha Metro is planning to increase the frequency of trains on its Vanaz–Ramwadi and PCMC–Swargate corridors. Officials have confirmed that Metro trains are likely to begin operating at five-minute intervals in the coming months, particularly ahead of the Ganeshotsav festival when commuter numbers are expected to surge.
Currently, the Metro operates at intervals of seven minutes during peak hours and 10 minutes during off-peak periods. However, with stations witnessing growing congestion—especially during rush hours—regular passengers have been urging the authorities to either increase train frequency or consider expanding the existing three-coach rakes.
A senior Maha Metro official told Punekar News, “We are in the final stages of planning to reduce the train interval to five minutes. The technical capability is already available, and our operations team is aligning schedules to accommodate the change.” He further added that the option of adding more coaches will be considered in a phased manner, but is not part of immediate plans.
Passenger footfall on both Metro lines has reached a record high. In June alone, over 52 lakh commuters used the service—the highest monthly usage since the launch of the Metro in Pune. The daily average currently stands at approximately 1.75 lakh riders, up from 1.5 lakh just a few months ago.
Commuters believe the monsoon and worsening road congestion have contributed to the increased reliance on Metro services. “With traffic getting worse and rains disrupting road transport, Metro is the more reliable option now,” said a regular passenger from Kothrud.
Another official pointed out that the system is designed to handle high-frequency operations. “We successfully ran services at five-minute intervals during the Palkhi festival, so we know the system can manage it,” he noted.
While the infrastructure, including platforms, is already built to accommodate six-coach trains, officials clarified that expansion from three to six coaches will be considered based on demand trends and logistical readiness. “Yes, the platforms are ready, and all rakes can eventually be upgraded to six coaches. But for now, we are focusing on improving frequency,” the official said.
With Ganeshotsav approaching and Metro ridership on the rise, authorities are expected to finalize and implement the revised frequency plan shortly.
