With industries expanding rapidly in Butibori, MIHAN and Hingna industrial belts, Maha Metro is looking to attract thousands of industrial workers as regular passengers. The Metro has said it can start a special service within 24 hours if there is genuine and sustainable demand from any company. The special Metro service will cater to employees working in different shifts. Responding to queries from ‘The Hitavada’, Maha Metro has shared that there is no fixed minimum ridership benchmark for launching a special service. Instead, the authority looks for a consistent commuter base capable of sustaining operations over a prolonged period.

 

A request from a single company or industrial cluster does not automatically translate into a new Metro service. According to a senior Maha Metro official, every proposal undergoes a detailed corridor-level assessment to determine whether the demand is sufficient across the entire route. “For instance, if there is a proposal for a service between Khapri and Automotive Square, Maha Metro evaluates the passenger demand on that stretch and also the operational impact on interconnected sections before taking a decision,” he shared. The process begins with discussions between Metro officials and the concerned industry through outreach initiatives such as Metro Samvad, during which commuting patterns and travel requirements are assessed.

 

“If the response indicates sustained demand, the proposal is examined by the Operations and Finance departments before being placed before the Managing Director, who is the final approving authority for any non-routine service,” the official added. According to officials, discussions with industries in Butibori, MIHAN and Hingna are already underway as part of efforts to improve industrial connectivity ahead of Metro Phase II. National Cancer Institute (NCI) is an example of successful integration of this. A feeder bus service between Khapri Metro Station and the hospital was introduced for staff and patients and continues to operate as part of Metro’s last-mile connectivity initiative. Khapri station witnesses the highest demand for extended services during international cricket matches at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Jamtha, while Rahate Colony station records the highest demand during Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Din and Vijaya Dashmi celebrations at Deekshabhoomi.

 

While the authority remains open to extending services whenever demand justifies it, officials said routine late-night operations are constrained by operational requirements. A mandatory four-hour maintenance window every night is required for inspection and maintenance of tracks, signalling systems, overhead electrification and rolling stock, which determines the first and last train timings. For industries seeking dedicated Metro connectivity, the message basically is that the authority is willing to introduce special services at short notice, even within 24 hours, but only after sustained commuter demand is demonstrated through surveys, operational studies and a corridor-wide assessment rather than isolated requests.