Pune: Metro services will run non-stop for 41 hours from Saturday morning till Sunday night to handle the rush of passengers on Ganapati immersion day. Metro will operate over 1,000 trips on both routes during this period. Officials plan to run train every three minutes, depending on the footfall. Currently, trains run at a maximum frequency of every six minutes.There has been a significant rise in footfall on Metro trains during Ganeshotsav. On Friday, 3.97 lakh commuters travelled on the Metro, recording a new high for single-day travel. The daily ridership has remained above 3 lakh over the last three days. All the stations in old city areas are open for commuters for the first time during Ganeshotsav.Maha Metro officials said that adequate provisions for manpower will be made at each station on Saturday and Sunday. The trains were operational till 2am last week. “On Saturday, the operations will continue overnight. We are anticipating more rush, being an immersion day; hence, the staff will function in three shifts at each station. The staffers have been told to be prompt and help commuters in purchasing journey tickets,” officials said.Maha Metro has also appealed to visitors to make use of Mandai station to board the trains for return journey. Commuters have been advised to get down at other stations like PMC, Civil Court, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Garden station, or at Deccan Gymkhana to join the processions. Appeals have been made to avoid overcrowding at Mandai station.At Mandai station, entry for commuters has been allowed from a gate located at the front of the building, and exit from the gate near the vegetable market.
