Short answer: yes, on the UTS app — not on IRCTC. This confuses a lot of people, so it is worth being precise about why.
Why IRCTC does not work for local trains
IRCTC handles reserved tickets: trains where you get a coach and a berth or seat number. The Pune–Lonavala local is an unreserved suburban service. There are no seat numbers to reserve, so it sits outside the IRCTC system entirely.
Option 1 — UTS on Mobile (the usual answer)
UTS on Mobile is the official Indian Railways app for unreserved tickets. It is free, and it issues a valid paperless ticket.
- Install UTS on Mobile and register with your mobile number.
- Top up the R-Wallet inside the app, or pay by UPI or card at the time of booking.
- Choose Journey Ticket → Paperless, then set your source and destination stations.
- Book, and the ticket appears in the app.
Two rules matter for paperless tickets:
- You must book while outside the station premises — the app uses a geo-fence and will refuse to issue a paperless ticket once you are on the platform.
- You must start your journey within the validity window shown on the ticket.
Option 2 — ATVM at the station
Automatic Ticket Vending Machines are installed at Pune Junction, Shivajinagar, Chinchwad and several other stations on the line. Tap your smart card, pick the destination, and the machine prints the ticket in a few seconds. During the morning peak this is normally much faster than the counter queue.
Option 3 — the booking counter
Still the fallback, still reliable, and still the only route for a first-issue season ticket or a concession ticket.
Which should you use?
- Occasional trip to Lonavala: UTS app, booked before you reach the station.
- Daily commuter: a monthly season ticket — cheaper and no booking step at all.
- Phone dead, queue long: ATVM with a smart card.
Travelling without a valid ticket on a suburban train carries a penalty that is many times the fare. On a route where a ticket costs less than a cup of chai, it is never worth the risk.