India, June 18 -- After the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) recently raised bus fares beginning June 1, thousands of daily commuters have switched to the Pune Metro, citing affordability, speed and comfort, leading to a noticeable surge in metro ridership.

According to official data, Pune Metro has recorded an 11% increase in footfalls during the first 16 days of June as compared to the first 16 days of May this year. The daily ridership has grown by an average of over 16,000 passengers, amounting to a total of over 1.13 lakh additional commuters using the Pune Metro this month.

Transport experts note that the shift from buses to the metro marks a significant change in commuter preferences, particularly on routes whe...