Nagpur Metro carries over 1.85 lakh passengers in a day amid Deekshabhoomi and Dussehra crowds

Nagpur was packed with crowds during the festivities of Dhammachakra Pravartan Din and Vijayadashami, and Nagpur Metro bore much of the load. Devotees who came to Deekshabhoomi, the city's various religious and cultural events and greater movement of people led to heavy crowds at metro stations. Even so, commuters found the metro a dependable option.

More than 1.85 lakh passengers travelled by metro in this one day. It is the third-highest daily ridership in the history of Nagpur Metro. Ridership rose 23 per cent compared with last year. Over 1.85 lakh people using the metro in a day again showed the growing popularity of public transport in the city.

Large numbers of followers come to Deekshabhoomi from different parts of the country on Dhammachakra Pravartan Din. So that they would not face inconvenience, Mahametro made special arrangements. For the convenience of the public, metro services were run from 5 am until midnight.

Whether followers heading to Deekshabhoomi at dawn or citizens returning home at night after the events ended, many were relieved by the extended hours. The metro also proved useful in avoiding possible traffic jams on the roads.

Devotees, citizens who stepped out for the festival and commuters travelling across the city all preferred the metro. The 23 per cent rise in ridership over last year is being seen as an important sign that use of the metro is growing.

Indora Chowk metro station saw particularly heavy footfall. With so many passengers arriving, managing the crowd was a major challenge for the station administration. Station officials and staff stayed alert and tried to keep passenger movement smooth. Proper planning and coordination made the staff's role important in handling the crowd.

Both Dhammachakra Pravartan Din and Vijayadashami are occasions of celebration and importance in Nagpur. Large numbers of people move around the city during this period. At such times, the availability and proper planning of public transport are decisive for the city's transport system.

With services running from dawn to midnight, a response of more than 1.85 lakh passengers and a 23 per cent rise over last year, Nagpur Metro played an important role on this special day. It was again made clear that during festivals the metro is not merely a convenience for Nagpur residents but a major support of the city's transport system.