Parking falls short at several Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 stations, commuters face difficulty

Finding a place to park could become a major problem for people travelling on Pune Metro's Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Line 3. Commuters coming from the congested central part of the city are likely to be hit hardest. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has earmarked eight amenity plots for Metro users in Baner and Balewadi, but many of the busiest stations still do not have adequate parking.

The civic body's aim is that commuters leave their vehicles near a Metro station and travel onward by train. The plots identified are 100 to 400 metres from their respective stations.

One large parking facility has come up near Amar Tech Park in Balewadi, close to the PMR-11 station, and spreads over about 30,000 sq ft. Another is in the ABZ area of Baner, near the PMR-14 station. It measures 21,000 sq ft and can take both two-wheelers and cars.

Parking is also planned on PMC plots near Balewadi Stadium, NICMAR, Ramnagar, Laxmi Nagar, Balewadi Phata and Baner village. These sites are roughly 250 to 400 metres from the stations concerned.

The situation is far more difficult in central Pune. Near the stations at Savitribai Phule Pune University Chowk, Agriculture College, Sakal Nagar, Aundh and Bremen Chowk, space is limited or absent even for two-wheelers. The recently built double-decker flyover on Ganeshkhind Road has also reduced road space in some stretches. Those who park by the roadside near a Metro station could face towing, as such parking can block traffic.

The same concern has been raised around the IT areas of Hinjewadi, Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3. Transport observers have warned that unregulated roadside parking near Metro entrances could add to congestion instead of easing the daily commute.

With no separate parking at many stations, the company operating the Metro is considering strengthening other ways of reaching stations. The plan includes greater use of PMPML feeder buses, e-rickshaw stands and rented bicycles or electric scooters. The real challenge is that people should be able to reach the nearest Metro station comfortably from home or office. Without dependable last-mile transport and safe parking, regular commuters, especially IT employees used to driving, may hesitate to switch fully to the Metro.

People from Pirangut, Mulshi, Ghotawade and nearby villages can use the park-and-ride facility at Maan depot. They can leave a two-wheeler or car there and take the Metro towards Hinjewadi or Pune. Shivajinagar is also an important interchange. Passengers from Swargate, Pimpri or Kothrud can reach Line 3 through the Civil Court interchange, whether they use parking nearby or connect from MahaMetro's existing Line 1 and Line 2.

Under MahaMetro's parking policy, pay-and-park facilities may charge a modest hourly fee. The estimates given are Rs 8 to Rs 10 for a two-wheeler and Rs 20 to Rs 30 for a car. At some stations, helmets may also be stored for a nominal fee of about Rs 5.

The parking at Baner and Balewadi does bring some relief, but facilities are not uniform along the corridor. Success in drawing private vehicle users to Line 3 depends not only on fast trains. It will also depend on whether passengers can reach stations safely and easily without adding to the city's traffic problems.