Nagpur plans new airport feeder service to boost Metro ridership

MahaMetro has proposed a revamped feeder bus service linking Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport directly with Nagpur’s Airport Metro Station in an effort to improve last-mile connectivity and increase Metro ridership.

The proposal is being examined by GMR Nagpur International Airport Ltd (GNAIL) after two rounds of discussions between the agencies.

Under the proposed arrangement, the feeder bus would be positioned closer to the airport terminal so passengers can transfer more easily between air travel and the Metro.

The bus is proposed to wait near the departure side, around 120 metres from the arrival gate, and move towards the arrival area after flights land.

The plan is aimed at making the Airport Metro Station more convenient for passengers arriving at or departing from the airport.

The initiative comes amid concerns over relatively low utilisation of the Airport Metro Station, with officials noting that ridership remains in the hundreds on several days and occasionally crosses 1,000 passengers.

MahaMetro is looking to coordinate the feeder service more closely with flight arrivals so passengers do not have to wait long for onward transport.

The proposed service is part of efforts to strengthen multimodal connectivity and make public transport a more practical option for airport passengers.

Nagpur Metro already operates feeder services connecting Metro stations with other parts of the city, while the new proposal focuses specifically on improving the airport-to-Metro transfer experience.