Pune, 24 December 2025: To make sure that metro ticket prices remain affordable and taxpayers are not burdened in the future, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MahaMetro) has decided to strongly focus on increasing non-fare revenue of the Pune Metro project.
Running and maintaining a large urban transport system like the metro involves high operational and maintenance costs. According to MahaMetro, revenue from ticket sales is planned to cover only around 50% of these expenses.
The remaining 50% gap will be bridged through non-fare revenue sources such as commercial leasing, advertising, branding rights, and telecom infrastructure.
To generate this income, MahaMetro has leased out fibre optic networks along elevated metro corridors to private telecom companies. Space on metro stations and depot buildings is also being rented out for mobile towers.
In addition, advertising rights have been given for metro stations, pillars, footbridges, and inside and outside metro trains. Short-term commercial spaces for shops, kiosks, and ATMs at stations have also been made available to businesses.
MahaMetro has already awarded co-branding or naming rights to 11 metro stations under a competitive bidding process. Stations such as Garware College, Phugewadi, Pune Railway Station, Ruby Hall Clinic, Kalyani Nagar, and Nal Stop now carry names of private companies.
Several well-known groups, including Bajaj General Insurance, Bajaj Finserv, Ruby Hall Clinic, Manikchand Group, Sahyadri Hospitals, JumboKing, Chitale Bandhu, Nourishing Farms, and Sandvik Coromant, are associated with the metro through these agreements.
These initiatives have shown positive results. MahaMetro earned around ₹19.8 crore from non-fare revenue in 2024–25. For 2025–26, the expected income from these sources is about ₹21 crore.
Speaking about the strategy, MahaMetro Managing Director Shravan Hardikar said that Pune Metro is fast becoming the backbone of the city’s public transport system.
With 30 stations currently operational and expansion work underway on new routes such as Vanaz to Chandni Chowk and Swargate to Katraj, it is essential to maintain financial balance. He said strengthening non-fare revenue will help the metro remain financially stable while continuing to offer services at reasonable fares.
MahaMetro officials added that this approach will help the Pune Metro move towards self-reliance, reduce dependence on government support, and ensure long-term sustainability without increasing ticket prices for commuters.