Actress
Gautami Deshpande
, known for shows like '
Saare Tujhyachsathi
' and '
Majha Hoshil Na
', is a regular commuter on the metro train in Mumbai. However, on Thursday, the actress got a first-hand experience of test-riding the
Pune Metro
, exclusively with Pune Times.
Right from checking out the city's first metro station at Sant Tukaram Nagar, to taking a short test ride till PCMC, Gautami was in awe of the facilities provided at the station and inside the metro rail coach. “I commute regularly by the metro when in Mumbai, but the Pune Metro experience was thrilling. I loved the facilities provided, especially the charging points and emergency button in the coach. I was also told that you can ride the metro with your bicycle. That makes commuting to and from the station easier for the public. It was a fantastic experience for me and the fact that I was one of the first Punekars to get this chance made it more special,” shared Gautami.
While interacting with officials at the station, Gautami also got her queries about the project answered. During the ride from Sant Tukaram Nagar to PCMC, Gautami tried using the emergency button to communicate with the metro operator. She told us, “I think this is an important feature in case of emergencies or safety concerns. For example, if there’s a medical emergency, you can inform the operator who will convey it to the concerned authority, and at the next station, there will be medical personnel to attend the emergency. I think this is a very important aspect. I was told that there will also be electric bikes outside the station, which you can use for a nearby commute. The station too is thoughtfully designed and gives a hassle-free experience.” The actress also happily posed for photos and selfies with the officials during the visit. “All in all, it was a thrilling experience for me,” said Gautami.