Petrol Scare Drives Up Metro Footfall in Nagpur

Nagpur: Metro ridership in the city surged to 1.13 lakh by 9pm on March 25, marking an increase of 6,375 passengers over the previous day and 5,143 more than the same day last week, as fuel-related concerns pushed more commuters towards public transport.Officials said the final count was expected to rise by another 500 to 1,000 passengers by the last service at 10pm. On March 24, ridership stood at around 1.06 lakh by 9pm, with the total for the day reaching 1.10 lakh. The spike in ridership came amid long queues at petrol pumps, triggered by rumours of a possible fuel shortage. With uncertainty over fuel availability, many commuters opted for the metro as a more dependable mode of travel.A senior MahaMetro official said the upward trend has been visible over the past couple of days, with a gradual rise in passenger numbers. While daily variations are routine, officials noted that the current increase is likely linked to the ongoing fuel situation, which has prompted a section of commuters to shift to the metro.The data also reflects how public transport systems tend to absorb sudden spikes in demand during disruptions, offering a reliable alternative when private vehicle use becomes uncertain.