Pune Metro First Impressions

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Pune Metro has two routes:

  1. Aqua Line running East-West from Ramwadi in East Pune to Vanaz in West Pune via Ruby Hall Clinic in downtown Pune. As of now, this route is operational between Ruby Hall Clinic and Vanaz, with the Ramwadi-to-Ruby Hall Clinic section expected to be commissioned by the end of the year.
  2. Purple Line running North-South from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation in North Pune to Swargate in South Pune.

The two lines intersect at Civil Court Interchange Station.

I recently took the  Aqua Line. Given below are my first impressions of the metro based on the one data point of this single trip.

1. TRAIN

The coach is spacious and has ample displays. The audio announcements are made in Marathi (local language of Pune, Maharasthra), Hindi, and English.

2. STATION

Both stations are way bigger than I’d imagined. From the outside, they look compact and seem to have only two levels. But they’re quite sprawling inside and are set on four levels.

Both stations could use a few more elevators and / or escalators. Also the route maps posted in the stations can do with mentioning travel times.

3. SCENERY

The Aqua Line runs entirely overground and provides an aerial view of the whole route. It’s fascinating to see the city from an elevation and notice things that I’ve missed while driving past them at ground level for 20 years e.g. Aircraft model inside the AISSMS College of Engineering campus near RTO Sangamwadi.

(While I haven’t taken it yet, the Purple Line has both underground and overground sections.)

4. SPEED

I was stunned to reach Versova from Ghatkopar in 22 minutes by Mumbai Metro, a trip that would easily take 45-90 minutes by road depending on traffic.  

@s_ketharaman: 22 minutes from Ghatkopar to Versova was one the most unbelievable moments in my life! Followed shortly by 45 mins from Versova to SV Road Andheri West, which was one of the most believable moments…😂.

A friend reports a similar surreal experience with Namma Bangalore Metro.

@gopibella: The first time I reached MG Road from Indiranagar in 9 minutes, I got out the train gobsmacked. Namma Metro Bangalore.

Compared to that, 25 minutes from Ruby Hall Clinic to Vanaz didn’t seem too sensational but I’m sure it will still shave a few minutes of time – and a few hundred bucks of cost – from a cab ride. Besides, I’m guessing the speed may increase after the service settles down in the coming weeks.

5. TICKETING

The fare from Ruby Hall Clinic to Vanaz is INR 25.

I saw a long line in front of the (human-operated) ticket counter, and went to the self-service kiosk. I got some error message and couldn’t proceed. I was about to give up and go back home when I remembered that Pune Metro has a prepaid card. (When I last checked, prepaid card was not a thing on Mumbai Metro although it has been available on Delhi Metro since its inception several years ago.)

Like the London TfL OysterCard, the One Pune card lets you load money on to it and tap in and tap out at the source and destination stations. The system automatically computes the fare and deducts it from the balance.    

I decided to buy the One Pune card. Disaster.

I had to scan a QR code, fill an e-form providing Aadhaar / Passport / Voter ID. It bombed. I interchanged my first name and last name on PAN card and retried. It went through and I got an SMS with a so-called PMRP number, which I had to show to a attendant at a counter. While there was only one passenger ahead of me on the queue, the process with her was taking too long. Then I saw the lady choosing a PIN and entering it on the POS terminal. That was the last straw. What’s the point in having so many KYCs and OTPs and security measures when you’re going to announce your PIN to the whole world?

According to the rep of HDFC Bank which issues One Pune, they have to follow RBI rules on issuance of prepaid card. This seemed quite daft to me. When I’m buying a single purpose travel card, where’s the need to follow the whole nine yards of security and KYC that’s required for a multipurpose prepaid card? 

In future, I hope they dispense with the need for elaborate KYC on One Pune card – or at least let riders jump through all those hoops in the comfort of their homes or offices – so that it becomes as easy to buy this card as other travel cards like OysterCard (but I wouldn’t hold by breath wherever RBI is involved).

Coming back to the present, I went to the ticket counter and stood in the line. When I was checking my WhatsApp, I found a message from Pune Metro saying I could tap on a link and buy an e-ticket.

That worked smoothly. After I paid with my credit card, I got an Open eTicket link on WhatsApp. When I tapped it, it opened up a website (https://pmr.billeasy.in/b/98z21x7) on my phone’s Chrome browser and displayed a QR code. I walked up to the turnstile and held my phone over the scanner. A green light flashed and I went past the turnstile.

Maybe because it’s early days, the turnstile was open all the time and there was a (human) turnstile inspector to ensure that passengers scanned their tickets. I’m inferring that my eTicket worked from the green light. I’ll know for sure only if I scan it again and see a red light! (Update: On a subsequent trip, I did see a red light on the turnstile; besides, a few hours after the trip, the QR code on the eTicket was marked EXPIRED and was no longer scannable.)

6. ADS

The e-ticket had an ad for Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale, the famous local sweet store chain. After displaying its products, the ad showed the location of its Pradhikaran store.

I wonder why the ad:

  1. Shows the Pradhikaran store, which is miles away from my route?
  2. Does not show the company’s flagship store at Deccan Gymkhana, which happens to be on my route?
  3. Defaults to car – rather than metro – as mode of travel while displaying the route on Google Maps?

I’ll direct these questions to the cofounder of the company and will update this post with his response.

7. SIGNIFICANCE OF ROUTE

Until circa 1990, Ramwadi and Vanaz were the city limits on the east and west side of Pune respectively. I wonder if the choice of terminii for the Aqua Line has anything to do with that historical factoid or is purely coincidental.

8. COMPANY STRUCTURE

The URL of Pune Metro’s website is punemetrorail.org. The .org domain suggests that it’s a not-for-profit company. That doesn’t mean that it can’t make profits or even that its prices must be “reasonable” (click here to know what nonprofit does mean) but it’s interesting to come across one more company that appears to to be government-owned at first blush but isn’t à la NPCI and ONDC.

It’s early days but Pune Metro already gets a 4-star rating from me (on a scale of 1 to 5 à la ratings on apps like Dunzo, Swiggy and Uber). I’m also eagerly looking forward to commissioning of the Ruby Hall Clinic to Ramwadi segment. For one, this leg of Aqua Line passes by my house. For another, it has a long stretch over a river and through a bird sanctuary, so it should be scenic.

Contrary to early media reports about Pune Metro, it’s NOT like a joy ride / toy train.

Maybe because Pune does not have an extensive public transport system, Pune Metro raises the mass transit capacity of the city to the next level.