Pune: The PMPML and Maha Metro authorities have shifted airport feeder bus services from the Ramwadi to Yerawada Metro stations. With this move, AC feeder bus services that were so far running from Ramwadi to the airport will remain suspended. Officials from Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) said that as Yerawada Metro station is now open for commuters, bus operations have been shifted there.
Commuters who wish to go to the airport will not have to travel all the way up to Ramwadi and can board a bus to the airport from Yerawada instead. Buses from Yerawada to the airport will run every half an hour till 10.10pm daily.
On the way, they will also halt at the GST Office, Nagpur Chawl, and 509 Chowk for commuters who wish to access the service en route. The Yerawada Metro station, located near the Airport Road junction, was made operational on Tuesday this week. A PMPML official told TOI, "A bus trip from Yerawada Metro station to the airport covers the distance in 15-20 minutes.
The frequency of buses has been set at 30 minutes, but it can be increased depending on footfall." Maha Metro and PMPML had in March 2024 introduced the feeder services from Ramwadi to the airport. The daily footfall of commuters using these was 350-400.
Besides bus trips to the airport, Maha Metro and PMPML last month introduced feeder buses from Ramwadi Metro station to Kharadi IT Park, too. Officials said these bus trips will continue to operate without any alterations. "Changes have been introduced only for the feeder services to the airport.
Other feeder routes will operate as they are," another PMPML official shared. Meanwhile, PMPML and Maha Metro are also exploring options to introduce feeder buses on other routes from Yerawada Metro station, apart from the ones to the airport. Feeder buses are currently operational on 13 routes from various Metro stations on two corridors — Vanaz to Ramwadi and PCMC to Civil Court.
Commuters confused, want info displayed Commuters using Pune Metro services have said the shifting of feeder bus services from Ramwadi to Yerawada Metro station may lead to confusion for some days. They are demanding that Maha Metro and PMPML disseminate this information at every Metro station and on social media. Chetan Datar, a regular commuter, said people are still not fully aware that Yerawada Metro station has been made operational and these bus trips have been shifted.
"Proper announcements should be taken up at all Metro stations to alert commuters about the changes. Travellers who reach Ramwadi Metro station failed to get feeder bus services to the airport on Thursday and Friday, leading to confusion and inconvenience," Datar told TOI. Ajit Shitole, another commuter, said, "Instead of this sudden closure, PMPML could have first reduced bus frequency from Ramwadi Metro station to airport in a phased manner.
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