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26METRO RAIL NEWS -AUGUST 2025 www.metrorailnews.in Recently, Maha Metro & PKC joined hands for a pilot study to boost ridership and improve last-mile connectivity. Could you elaborate on this initiative?As part of our commitment to improving urban mobility and understanding commuter needs, Maha Metro undertook a pilot study in collaboration with the Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC), Centre for Environment Education (CEE), and Save Pune Traffic Movement (SPTM). The aim was to gain deeper insights into passenger behaviour, transportation needs, and expectations from Maha Metro.This initiative is helping us better understand how commuters travel, what challenges they face, and what improvements they seek in public transport. The ultimate goal is to enable seamless travel, encourage a shift from personal vehicles to public transport, and create a more commuter-friendly Metro experience.The pilot study was conducted in the Kothrud area, and based on its success, we plan to replicate similar studies in other parts of the city to inform future planning and service enhancements.What steps is Maha Metro taking to ensure that the Pune & Nagpur Metro remains accessible and affordable for all sections of society?%u2022Maha Metro%u2019s fare structure is determined by the Government of Maharashtra and is kept affordable compared to other modes of transport. Our strategy has always been to maintain low fares by focusing on increasing non-fare revenue sources and reducing O & M expenditure.%u2022To reduce overall expenditure on operations and maintenance (O&M), we have strategically outsourced O&M activities, helping us bring down administrative and operational costs. As a result of these measures, Maha Metro has not increased its fares since its inception, making it a cost-effective and commuter-friendly option for the public.What is your long-term vision for the Pune, Nagpur, and Thane Metro system by, say, 2030 or 2035, in terms of network length, ridership, and its role in Pune%u2019s urban landscape?%u2022Pune Metro was the nodal agency for preparing the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for the Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR).%u2022As part of this initiative, Pune Metro has conducted extensive consultations with key stakeholders of the city to assess and understand the city%u2019s long-term public transport needs over the next 20 to 30 years.%u2022The Pune Metropolitan Region is projected to require a Metro network of approximately 175%u2013200 km to adequately meet future demand with an expansion of city bus services, which serve as the backbone of public transport in any urban area. PMR needs 6,000 buses, whereas currently operates around 1,800 buses.%u2022There are two ring roads at various stages of implementation.%u2022The Pune Metropolitan Region boasts a diverse economic base, led by a well-established automobile industry, IT, ITES, BioTech, Pharma and is rapidly transforming through initiatives such as the Smart City Mission, development of a multimodal transport hub, and a planned greenfield international airport, all contributing to Pune%u2019s emergence as a future-ready urban centre.%u2022For Thane metro, the Approved CMP prepared in 2018 for Thane city comprises the Thane Metro Phase II, to be implemented in 2037, connecting the East part of Thane city, i.e. Kalwa, Mumbra, Shilphata, etc.%u2022Another proposal for the Thane Metro extension is to connect Thane Junction with Thane HSR station. Preliminary correspondence with the NHSRCL and the Railways Ministry is underway.In terms of sustainability, what initiatives is Maha Metro undertaking to ensure the Metro is an eco-friendly mode of transport, and what are your goals for reducing the city%u2019s carbon footprint?%u2022Pune Metro has solar panels installed at 14 stations and 2 depots. Pune Metro has generated 12.2689 MWh of solar energy, resulting in a cost saving of %u20b94.75 crore from February 2022 to May 2025.%u2022Similarly, Nagpur Metro Rail Project (NMRP) has installed & commissioned 4.5 MWp rooftop Solar PV systems across its 24 Metro stations, 2 depot buildings & track boundary walls. In addition to 4.5 MWp commissioned solar PV systems, 5.5 MWp rooftop solar PV plants are being installed at the remaining 13 Nagpur Metro stations, depot buildings & other suitable locations of NMRP.EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW