PMPML loses 2 lakh passengers in 8 months: RTI

The number of people using Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus service has dropped by 2 lakh commuters over the last eight months, revealed an RTI query filed by traffic activist Jugal Rathi.

While there could be several reasons for the drop in number of commuters, some of the main reasons are considered consistent fare hikes, poor frequency and service, said activists, who added that any further increase in rates could prove to be the last nail in the coffin of the transport body.

Prior to the fake hike in August 2012, there were 11,84,000 passengers. However, figures obtained under the RTI for the month of April 2013 showed the number of commuters dropped to 9,81,000. Therefore the total number of passengers came down by nearly 2 lakh passengers.

Rathi, who is president of PMP Pravasi Manch, said, “In August 2012, the total number of buses plying on the road were 1,240 and in April 2013 the number of buses were slightly higher at 1,296. Hence that is no excuse for number of passengers to go down.”

Civic activist Qaneez Sukhrani alleged that the poor condition of buses was also a reason for the drop in numbers. “The buses are so dirty and ill-maintained that people do not feel like commuting in them. If PMPML takes care of the maintenance, only then the numbers could go up,” she said.

Even as the number of passengers are going down, the transport body is buying new buses, which doesn’t make any sense, alleged Rathi. “Moreover, the cost of 500 buses at Rs25 lakh each will be some Rs125 crore. The PMC should pay Rs75 crore and PCMC should pay Rs50 crore. The three cantonments boards and zilla parishad should also make some payments to PMPML as they are using the service,” he added.

Moreover, the decision of adding 600 buses to the fleet on hired basis is adding to the misery of commuters, besides endangering the lives of lakhs of commuters as there have been nine fatal accidents in the last five months and in all of them, hired buses were involved.

Pravin Ashtikar, joint managing director of PMPML said, “There are issues of frequency and connectivity and we are trying to improve that aspect. Over a period of time, things will be in place. We will have 1,100 buses in the next five months. Therefore the number of passengers will increase.”

He said, “We cannot do anything about the fare hike as the price of diesel and CNG is increasing. Therefore we cannot do much in this regard.”

250 buses off roads during rains

Despite the tall claims of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) that 98% of its buses would ply during the monsoon, more than 250 buses are off the roads and lying for repairs and maintenance work. The PMPML officials cite shortage of staffers, inadequate funds and lack of maintenance as the reasons.

As of now, PMPML has 1,795 buses out of which 1,545 buses are plying on the roads, catering to thousands of passengers daily. On an average each bus can accommodate 900 passengers. Therefore if 250 buses are off the roads, over 23,000 passengers have to bear the brunt.

Jugal Rathi, president of PMP Pravasi Manch said, “The PMPML is never ready to take the onus on itself for its errors. Majority of the buses do not have proper glass panes and working wipers, which are the basic necessities during the monsoon. Due to this poor maintenance, about 250 buses are off the roads. The commuters have to bear the brunt of their incompetence every day.”

Speaking about the problem that PMPML is facing, Sunil Burase, PMPML chief engineer said, “There are only 13 engineers for 1,795 buses and 10 bus depots. Some people are working for more than 12 hours a day, yet it is not possible to make up the deficit. We need more engineers and the number of depots have to be increased.”

He said, “As we do not have enough space at the depots to accommodate all the buses, therefore buses are parked on the roads. Sometimes they are parked so close to each other that while taking out a bus, some or the other glass pane breaks. As far as wipers are concerned, all are in working condition. There are some odd cases where the wipers stop working due to short circuit.”

Transport utility seeks extension of state aid for 2 yrs

Faced with a severe financial crunch, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) authorities are now seeking the help of the state government to run its operations.

At a meeting to be held on Saturday at the Circuit House, the authorities would be handing over a request letter to deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar asking that the state government extend its help in running operations for another two years.

The state government had agreed to help PMPML for the first three years. This period expires in December 2013. However, as the PMPML is unable to bear the expenses, they want that the state government should extend the term till December 2015.

Pravin Ashtikar, joint managing director of PMPML, said, “We are preparing the data, which we are going to present to the city guardian minister on Saturday. We want the state government to help us as we are unable to manage the expenses.”

He said, “We also want that the state government should pass a general resolution about 2% of the annual budget of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) being allotted for PMPML.”

The issue of city limits will also be discussed at the meeting.
The PMPML claims it is liable to run its fleet within city limits. However, in practice, they have to run their buses outside city limits to places like Khed Shivapur, Saswad and Pirangut Ghat. As the number of passengers on these routes is very low, the PMPML is unable to meet the raise the required earning per km.

PMPML will be requesting the city guardian minister to intervene in the matter and ask the gram panchayats concerned to pay some amount to the PMPML as should be done by the PMC and the PCMC.

PMPML is also facing the issue of lack of sufficient bus depots, due to which most of the buses are parked on the road. Therefore, PMPML will be requesting the guardian minister to increase the number of bus depots. As of now there are only 10 bus depots.