Pune: Ganeshotsav Brings Record Rush to Pune Metro: 22.75 Lakh Riders in Just One Week
Pune, 4th September 2025: The city’s beloved Ganeshotsav is not only filling pandals with devotion but also Metro trains with unprecedented crowds. Over the past week, 22.75 lakh passengers boarded the Pune Metro, generating ₹3.14 crore in revenue, a festive season record.
This year, the Metro’s direct connection to Mahatma Phule Mandai has transformed travel for devotees. Instead of navigating congested city roads, people from Pimpri-Chinchwad, Ramwadi, and suburbs are choosing to park at stations like Ramwadi, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Fugewadi, Dapodi, and Vanaz before riding into the city.
The convenience has created extraordinary rush at Swargate, Shivajinagar, Kasba Peth, and especially Mandai station, where footfall has been overwhelming. To balance the flow, Metro authorities have urged commuters to also use Shivajinagar and Kasba Peth for easier access.
From 2 Lakh to 3 Lakh Daily Riders
On regular days, Pune Metro carries around 2.1 lakh passengers daily. But Ganeshotsav has pushed this figure beyond 3 lakh per day, according to MahaMetro PRO Chandrashekhar Tambhekar.
Here’s how the festive surge unfolded:
August 27: 2.28 lakh
August 28: 2.36 lakh
August 29: 2.60 lakh
August 30: 3.68 lakh (peak day so far)
August 31: 3.21 lakh
September 1: 3.12 lakh
September 2: 3.02 lakh
For many Punekars, this Ganeshotsav has been their first experience of travelling by Metro, and the response signals a shift in commuting habits. The blend of faith and convenience has not only eased traffic woes but also highlighted the Metro’s potential as the city’s backbone of urban mobility.
