No Parking Available At Metro Stations In Pimpri-Chinchwad; Use Public Transport, Says Pune Metro
**Pimpri-Chinchwad Metro Parking Woes: Lack of Facilities Causes Traffic Congestion**
The Pune Metro is currently operational on two main lines within Pune city. One line connects the Pimpri-Chinchwad area to Swargate, while the other runs from Kothrud to Ramwadi. However, a major concern has emerged—there are no parking facilities beneath the metro stations. This has led to vehicles being parked indiscriminately on footpaths and along roadsides, particularly in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area. The metro currently operates from the PCMC Main Administrative Building to Dapodi, and the lack of designated parking is creating obstacles for both traffic and pedestrians.
### Pune Metro’s Current Operations
Pune Metro operates two primary routes:
– **Purple Line:** From PCMC Building to Swargate
– **Aqua Line:** From Vanaz (Kothrud) to Ramwadi
These lines cover key north-south and east-west corridors with a total of 30 stations now open to the public across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad cities.
Additionally, Line 3, which will connect Hinjawadi IT Park to Shivajinagar, is currently under construction and is expected to be operational by 2026.
### Expansion and Future Projects
Several extension projects are either underway or in the final approval stages, including:
– Swargate to Katraj
– PCMC to Nigdi
– Vanaz to Chandni Chowk
– Ramwadi to Wagholi
– A new greenfield line from Khadakwasla to Kharadi via Hadapsar, set to feature driverless operations
The expanding network aims to integrate seamlessly with city buses and other modes of transport, promising improved connectivity for Pune’s growing population.
### Rising Commuter Numbers but No Parking Facilities
According to available data, the number of metro commuters is increasing daily. The PCMC Building Metro Station reportedly generates the highest revenue for Maha Metro. Despite this, there are no parking facilities provided beneath the station.
Though Maha Metro had previously announced plans for paid parking, these have yet to be implemented. The absence of designated parking spaces has forced commuters to park their vehicles on footpaths and roadsides, exacerbating traffic issues.
### Parking Woes Affect Residents and Commuters
Residents and metro users have reported vehicles being parked around the metro stations from early morning until midnight. Autorickshaw drivers and private cabs crowded around the stations further intensify the traffic congestion, especially on already narrow roads.
A regular metro commuter, Arihant Sarode, shared his experience:
*”Morwadi Chowk (Finolex Chowk) is already overwhelmed with traffic jams. I live in Wakad and work in Kalyani Nagar. I use the PCMC Building Metro Station to commute but rely on my bike to reach the station. Finding parking for my bike is always a challenge. When it rains, I want to use my car but can’t because of the lack of parking. Sometimes, I have no choice but to drive my car all the way to the office instead of taking the metro.”*
### Maha Metro’s Stance: Use Public Transport & Feeder Services
Maha Metro encourages commuters to use feeder bus services or rickshaws to reach metro stations, discouraging the use of private vehicles from home or workplace to eliminate parking needs.
Officials have clarified that developing parking lots near stations is not feasible. They also highlighted concerns that introducing paid parking could lead to complaints about the fees being higher than the metro ticket prices.
Shravan Hardikar, Managing Director of Maha Metro, explained,
*”Commuters often park their vehicles near the metro stations in the morning and only retrieve them late at night. This results in parking spaces being occupied all day, leaving no availability for other users. Considering all these factors, it has been decided that parking facilities will not be provided in the PCMC area.”*
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As Pune Metro continues to expand, addressing the parking and traffic challenges will be critical for ensuring a smooth and commuter-friendly transit experience across the city.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/no-parking-available-at-metro-stations-in-pimpri-chinchwad-use-public-transport-says-pune-metro
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