Maha Metro To Boost Last-Mile Connectivity With More Feeder Buses

Maha Metro, the city’s metro service, plans to improve last-mile connectivity by expanding feeder bus services.

Following the recent launch of a service from Ramwadi Metro station to Lohegaon airport, Maha Metro aims to approach the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) to reschedule feeder bus operations from more stations, as reported by TOI.

Officials from Maha Metro noted that the extension of the bus route has led to an increase in daily footfall. In response, they’re striving to introduce additional feeder services to facilitate commuters’ access to stations.

Previously, PMPML’s feeder buses operated from Civil Court, Nal Stop, and Garware College stations since August last year. However, due to poor response, the number of trips was reduced and eventually discontinued. Now, Maha Metro proposes to adjust the services from these stations.

Regular commuters have suggested deploying buses during peak hours on nearby routes. Residents like Paresh Pansare advocate for smaller buses to connect areas like Karvenagar and Prabhat Road from Nal Stop station, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive route study within a 3-4km radius of the Metro stations.

Yash Mehta, another commuter, criticized the poor planning of feeder bus routes, suggesting trips from Garware College station through Shastri Road to Dandekar Bridge and back, connecting people from the Sinhagad Road area to the Metro.

In addition to enhancing bus services, share-an-auto services will soon be available at Metro stations. This decision emerged from a meeting involving a city-based forum, transport officials, and autorickshaw unions, indicating a collaborative effort to address transportation challenges in Pune.