Pune Metro has announced a temporary suspension of services after 6:00 PM on Friday, November 1. The suspension is done to observe Lakshmi Puja. Regular operations will resume Saturday morning. Officials have advised passengers to plan their journey accordingly, saying services will be available only on Friday between 6am and 6pm.

The announcement was made on social media platform X, where Pune Metro posted, “Please be alert!! Important Notice for Pune Metro Passengers. Pune Metro service will be available from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Friday, November 1, 2024, on the occasion of Lakshmi Puja.”

However, the decision drew criticism from commuters and the public. Many passengers expressed their concerns online, highlighting the inconvenience caused by the suspension during a busy festival evening.

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One user, Anand Bellad commented: “What a waste of public service… how can a public transport system stop like this… unless it’s an emergency stop.” Another user, Mayuresh, suggested reducing the frequency of the service instead of stopping it completely. “Disheartening step. The subway should be available. They could have reduced the frequency to 30 minutes if they didn’t expect many passengers. Over 20,000 crore audience money is invested in metro… Metro officials should understand the numbers first,” he wrote.

Members of local passenger groups also voiced their displeasure, with Raju Duttarao Pawar of the Pune Pravasi Group saying public services should not stop, especially on a festive evening.

Responding to the feedback, Pune Metro official Hemant Sonawane explained that the decision was based on the expected low ridership during the festival night. “It would not be fair for drivers to work for such a small number,” he remarked.

Regular service hours will resume on Saturday, November 2, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.