Only 5-7% passengers use Metro to reach airport, Rly station & bus terminals

Nagpur: Despite Nagpur Metro's growing network and stations near major transit hubs, only 5% to 7% passengers use Metro to reach the airport, railway stations and bus terminals, exposing glaring last-mile connectivity gaps, according to the statistics by MahaMetro & RITES.The survey found that Metro accounts for just 5.2% of passenger trips to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, while its share remains 6.8% each for railway stations and bus terminals. In contrast, commuters continue to depend heavily on private vehicles, auto-rickshaws and buses.One of the key concerns remains Airport Metro Station on Wardha Road, located nearly 800 metres to 1 kilometre from the airport terminal. Though MahaMetro and NMC had introduced feeder buses connecting the terminal and station, the services have been discontinued for the past few months. While major Metro stations record daily footfall of 7,000 to 10,000 passengers, Airport Metro Station often struggles to attract even a few hundred commuters a day, said sources.A similar trend has emerged at Railway Station Metro Station, located close to the eastern gate of the station. Earlier, authorities had proposed a foot overbridge linking the Metro station directly with the railway station premises to ease commuter movement. However, there is currently no clear update on the status of the project.The situation is similar at bus terminals. Though Mor Bhavan bus stand has Metro access through nearby Sitabuldi and Jhansi Rani Square stations, a majority of commuters still rely on autos, two-wheelers and private vehicles, which together account for nearly 60% of access trips. At Ganeshpeth bus stand, commuters pointed out that there is no Metro station within close proximity, reducing the possibility of seamless integration.A senior MahaMetro official said efforts are underway to improve multi-modal connectivity across transport hubs. "We are studying the issues related to last-mile connectivity and integration. Necessary measures will be taken based on the findings," the official said.