2.62 Lakh Ride Pune Metro on Ganesh Festival’s First Day, Up 21% From Last Year
Pune, 15th September 2026: Pune Metro recorded a significant rise in ridership on the first day of the Ganesh festival, with 2,62,671 passengers travelling on September 14, an increase of 46,297 passengers or 21.40% compared with 2,16,374 passengers recorded on the corresponding day last year.
To manage the festival rush and facilitate the movement of devotees, Pune Metro has increased the frequency of trains to one every five minutes. The District Court interchange station recorded 58,948 passengers, up 21.89% from 48,359 last year, while Mahatma Phule Mandai station registered the highest footfall at 51,533 passengers, a 21.73% increase from 42,334 last year. Other major stations recorded 25,429 passengers at PCMC, 23,644 at Ramwadi, 21,099 at Swargate and 19,267 at PMC, with the figures recorded until 11pm.
The metro administration has also planned extended services during the festival to facilitate devotees visiting Ganesh decorations and pandals late at night. Passengers visiting central Pune for Ganesh darshan have been advised to use Kasba Peth, Swargate, PMC, Deccan Gymkhana and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Udyan stations.
Mahatma Phule Mandai station has been recommended primarily for return journeys to help manage crowds. Commuters have also been urged to use digital ticketing options, including QR codes, the Metro app and WhatsApp, to avoid queues and save time. The metro administration has appealed to citizens to use the service to avoid traffic congestion and ensure a safe, faster and more convenient journey during the festival.
