Pune: Dahihandi Crowds Push Pune Metro Ridership to 1.39 Lakh in a Day

Pune, 7th September 2026: With heavy traffic, road restrictions and large crowds marking Dahihandi celebrations across Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, the Pune Metro emerged as a preferred mode of transport, recording nearly 1.39 lakh passengers in a single day on Saturday.

According to the metro administration, around 1,39,400 passengers travelled on the network on September 5, generating revenue of Rs 18,26,045. The surge was attributed to citizens opting for public transport to avoid congestion caused by Dahihandi events, the movement of Govinda groups and traffic diversions across the city.

Crowds increased particularly during the evening as people from different parts of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad headed towards festival venues, markets and major junctions. With traffic restrictions and the possibility of delays on several routes, many commuters chose the Metro to reach their destinations without getting caught in traffic jams.

The service also saw increased use among youngsters visiting the city for the festival as well as regular commuters travelling between Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. The metro administration had made additional crowd-management arrangements at stations to regulate passenger movement and ensure smooth entry and exit.

At Mandai Metro station, where a heavy footfall was anticipated, separate entry and exit gates were arranged to manage the movement of passengers.