Maha Metro Rail Corporation has rented out a reserved Pune Metro train set to Patna Metro for a period of three years. The train, comprising three coaches, has reportedly reached the Geetagad depot in Bihar, where it is being prepped for the inaugural run of Patna Metro, scheduled on August 15, coinciding with India’s Independence Day.
The decision has been questioned by the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress, which has termed the move as a "politically motivated diversion of resources" from Maharashtra to Bihar, allegedly for electoral gains ahead of the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.
What is the controversy?
According to official data, Pune Metro requires a total of 34 train sets to operate at full efficiency. However, only 33 have been delivered so far. Of these, one train set was kept in reserve for emergencies or technical maintenance.
That lone reserved train is now on lease to the Patna Metro project, which reportedly did not have its own trial-ready train set to begin operations. Trial runs in Patna are currently being carried out using the Pune train, and the same rake is expected to be featured during the public launch on Independence Day.
Pune's growing urban transit needs
Pune's metro ridership currently averages 1.8 lakh passengers daily, and the city is gearing up for the launch of new corridors such as Shivajinagar–Hinjawadi, Pimpri–Swargate and Vanaz–Ramwadi extension.
With rising demand, the need for increased frequency and standby units is critical. The now-leased train was intended to serve as a backup for service augmentation and breakdown scenarios, especially as several stations face peak-hour overcrowding and operational delays.
Prathamesh Abnave, General Secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress, criticising the decision, said, "Commuters in Pune are struggling with long wait times and overcrowded trains. Diverting the city’s only reserved metro rake to another state without public or political consultation is unacceptable."
Abnave alleged that the move is politically timed to ensure Patna Metro’s symbolic launch before Bihar’s elections, aiming to gain mileage for the ruling parties.
"If the decision is not reversed and the train not returned immediately, the Youth Congress will stage a protest at the Maha Metro office in Pune,” he added.
