Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited

Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML, lit. Pune Metropolitan Transport Corporation), is the public transport bus service provider for the city of Pune (PMC & PCMC Limits). Prior to its foundation on 19 October 2007, the twin cities were served by two separate providers, viz. the Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Transport (PCMT).[4] It operates 371 routes within a radius of 20 km around the two cities, including 51 Rainbow BRT routes that at least partially ply on the 4 bus rapid transit corridors.[5]

Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML)
PMPML bus at the Nigdi Depot
Founded19 October 2007
HeadquartersShankar Sheth Road, Swargate, Pune, Maharashtra
LocalePune Metropolitan Region
Service areaPune (PMC & PCMC Limits)
Service typeBus and Rainbow BRT
Routes371[1]
Hubs
Depots13[1] And 4 Proposed
Fleet1550 buses [2]
Daily ridershipc. 11,00,000[1][3]
Fuel typeDiesel, CNG, Electric
Managing DirectorNayana Gunde, IAS
Websitehttp://www.pmpml.org/

Now in 2019 PmpmL has introduced Electric AC Buses in Normal fare which is consist of 9 mtr as well as 12 mtr

History

Early history

Pune Nagarpalika, predecessor of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), conceived the idea of a public transport system for the city in the 1940s which materialized when the Regional Transport Office gave its nod for M/s. Silver Jubilee Motors to take up the charge. The service that began with 4 routes with 20 buses already had increased to 46 buses by 1948.[6]

PMT and PCMT

After the transformation of Pune Nagarpalika into PMC in 1950, the civic body took over the service. Pune Municipal Transport (PMT), as it was named after the takeover, started with a fleet of 57 buses that plied on 14 routes.[6]

The public transport provider for the industrial city, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Transport (PCMT), was founded on 4 March 1974 with a fleet of 8 buses plying between Pimpri and Bhosari. PCMT saw rapid expansion and already by 1988, it had a fleet of 101 buses plying on 13 routes.[6]

Merger

A proposal for merger of PMT and PCMT into a unified company to serve the larger metropolitan regions was proposed as early as 1992, when the general body of the PMC passed a resolution supporting such merger.[7] However, the PCMC only considered a merger in 2003.[7] The merger was formally announced in April 2007 and PMPML as it exists today came into being on 19 October 2007.[4][6]

Operations
An old PMT era bus with PMPML spotted in Pune university on route 25

Per the website in April 2018, PMPML has a fleet of 1450 buses maintained at 13 depots. However due to several buses being in disrepair, only 1277 buses are operational and ferry c. 900,000 passengers every day.[1]

PMPML acquired 50 electric buses in August 2019, taking the total fleet tally to 75. The first lot of 25 electric buses in February 2019. PMPML also plans to acquire 350 of such electric buses by the end of 2019.[8]

Services
See also: Rainbow Bus Rapid Transit System
A bus stop on Rainbow BRT corridor

PMPML operates regular scheduled services daily between 5:30 am and midnight on 371 routes.[5] The frequencies on individual routes vary greatly according to demand. Certain long distance routes are serviced only a few times per day.[9] Some of these routes are partially or fully run on the BRT corridors under the brand name Rainbow BRTS.


Automatic Door


PMPML also operates night buses after midnight on 7 routes.[10] On the occasion of International Women's Day 2018, PMPML launched 'Tejaswini' (Marathi: तेजस्विनी; radiant) bus services exclusively for women which were well received by women commuters.[11][12] There 218 daily Tejaswini services during the morning and afternoon peak hours on eight of the busiest routes.[11] PMPML also runs special services for tourists under the name 'Pune Darshan' as well as airport services from Rajiv Gandhi IT Park, Hinjewadi to Pune Airport.[5]

Fare
A PMPML ticket box
An electronic ticketing machine
Single Ticket Fare Chart (April 2018)[13]
Distance (km) Fare (₹)
Full Half

(Children aged 3 to 12 years)

Regular Night Regular Night
0-2 5 10 5 5
2-8 10 15 10
8-12 15 20 10
12-16 20 25 15
16-22 25 30 15
22-28 30 35 20
28-34 35 40
34-40 40 45 20 25
40-44 45 50
44-52 50 55 25 30
52-56 55 60
>56 60 65 30 35

Single journey tickets are valid for a single trip between any two points. They are issued as paper tickets and are to be bought on board from the conductor. The fare depends on the distance of travel (see table below) and needs to be paid in cash. Children between the ages of three and twelve years travel at reduced fares, called 'half ticket', while no fares are charged for children younger than three. Fares on the night bus services are higher.

PMPML offers daily, weekly, fortnightly, quarterly and annual traveling passes to make journeys convenient for its passengers. Discounted passes are also there for elderly passengers, visually and physically challenged, reporters and freedom fighters. All passes can be obtained both online and offline.[14] A pass can only be used in conjunction with an identity card issued by the PMPML at a cost of ₹ 20 (+ ₹ 5 for application). As of April 2018, a monthly pass valid for a month on all routes costs ₹ 1,400, while students and senior citizens need to pay ₹ 750 and ₹ 500, respectively.[15] A day pass valid on all routes costs ₹ 70 and can only be obtained on board.[16]


Depots
A PMPML Volvo at Swargate Bus Station.

PMPML currently has 11 operational bus depots.[17]

Sr.Depot name
1Swargate
2Narveer Tanaji Wadi
3Kothrud
4Katraj
5Hadapsar
6Market Yard
7Pune Railway Station
8Bhakti Shakti, Nigdi
9Nehrunagar, Pimpri
10Sadgurunagar, Bhosari
11Wagholi

Issues

Operational losses

PMPML has been incurring heavy operational losses ever since its formation in 2007.[18][19][20] As per the merger contract, the PMC and PCMC bear 60% and 40% of the losses respectively.[21][22] There have been disputes between the two civic bodies resulting in demands for dissolving the PMPML to form PMT and PCMT as they existed before 2007.[23][24][25]

Insufficient fleet and poor maintenance

PMPML is the sole public transport provider for the metropolitan area surrounding the twin cities of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad with a population of 5,057,709.[5][26] PMPML had a fleet of 1780 buses of which on an average only 1,382 were operational.[1] Thus at any given moment, c. 34% of its fleet was off roads, way above the limit of 20% per the norms set by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT).[27][28] This put the ratio of operational buses at c. 27 per 100,000 population. Reasons for these buses being off roads are mainly related to maintenance and frequent breakdowns due to several factors including insufficient manpower and facilities at PMPML depots and lack of preventive maintenance. PMPML also has a number of buses that are owned and maintained by private contractors which also suffer poor maintenance.[28][29][30] Moreover, a significant number of buses in the fleet are older than 15 years while 746 buses are 10-15 years old making them prone to frequent breakdowns.[31][32][33] Insufficient buses inevitably lead to overcrowding on the buses during peak hours with as many as three times the capacity riding a single bus.[34]

To alleviate the problem of insufficient buses, PMPML had decided to buy 800 new diesel buses in 2017 postponing its initial plan of buying 550 air conditioned buses.[35] The decision drew severe criticism regarding the environmental impact of diesel buses. Several NGOs and commuter groups suggested that PMPML should buy CNG buses instead.[36][37] As a result, it was decided that 400 CNG and 400 diesel-run buses would be bought.[38][39] However, CM Devendra Fadnavis insisted that PMPML concentrates on eco-friendly buses in April 2018.[40] As of May 2018, PMPML planned to buy 500 electric air conditioned buses and 400 CNG buses.[40][41]

Infrastructure

PMPML does not have sufficient bus depots which leads to as many as half of the buses being parked on the streets in 2015.[42] The drivers have also been blamed for parking haphazardly leading to traffic snarls in the busy areas of the city.[43][44] According to a CIRT report, PMPML needs 18 depots as opposed to 13 in 2016-17.[1][42] Recently, the development of new depots to solve the parking issue has gained some momentum.[45][46] Bus shelters have been criticized for their condition, lack of seats, information, etc.[47][48][49]

Safety and accidents

In 2017-18, several buses caught fire which has put a big question mark on the safety of commuters.[50][51][52][53] Between January 2017 and March 2018, a period of 15 months, the number of such incidents had reached 16 with almost one incident per month.[54] In an answer to a query submitted under the Right to Information Act, it was revealed that PMPML owns only 124 fire extinguishers and most buses have neither undergone a fire safety audit nor do they have any fire extinguishers.[55] PMPML have claimed that fire extinguishers on the buses are prone to theft.[56][57] PMPML announced that all of its buses and facilities will undergo a fire safety audit and would be equipped with fire extinguishers by end of May 2018.[58][59]

Notes
  1. "Statistics | Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd". www.pmpml.org. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  2. https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/commuter-survey-shows-what-pune-wants-vs-what-pmpml-delivers/story-ZclabUYnwbY9lW7dVYr3FK.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. "Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limiteds move to increase price of daily bus pass irks passengers - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  4. "PMT, PCMT merger finally through - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  5. "Regular Buses | Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd". www.pmpml.org. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  6. "History | Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd". www.pmpml.org. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  7. "Boost for PMT, PCMT merger plans - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  8. Aug 17, TNN | Updated; 2019; Ist, 9:59. "PMPML acquires 50 electric buses, takes fleet tally to 75 | Pune News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 October 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. "PMPML Regular Service Schedule" (PDF). Official website of PMPML.
  10. "Night Buses | Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd". www.pmpml.org. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  11. "Over 2 lakh women passengers use PMPML's Tejaswini buses in a month in Pune". Hindustan Times. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  12. "PMPML's ladies-only buses roll out from Katraj depot - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  13. "Fares | Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd". www.pmpml.org. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  14. "FAQs | Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd". www.pmpml.org. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  15. "Within a day of change of guard: Relief for senior citizens as PMPML board scraps Tukaram Mundhe's hike on passes". The Indian Express. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  16. "PMPML daily passes will not be available at pass centres - Pune Mirror -". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  17. PMPML. "PMPML - Depots and Stands". PMPML. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  18. "Even after launch of new buses, PMPML's losses increase by Rs 50cr". Hindustan Times. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  19. "PMPML continues to bleed, suffers operating losses of Rs 210 crore in 2016-17 - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  20. "Financial Performance | Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd". www.pmpml.org. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  21. "PMC takes Rs 100 crore hit in bus utility's overall losses - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  22. "Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation threatens to withhold PMPML funds - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  23. "PMPML s demerger hangs in the balance". mid-day. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  24. "PMPML to submit report next week - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  25. "PMC okays PMPML de-merger - Pune Mirror -". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  26. "Pune Metropolitan Urban Region Population 2011 Census". www.census2011.co.in. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  27. "PMPML continues to bleed, suffers operating losses of Rs 210 crore in 2016-17 - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  28. "PMPML sees alarming drop in number of users | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  29. "Erratic bus timings lead to long waits at Pune s stops". mid-day. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  30. "Frequent breakdown of PMPML buses add to traffic jam burden - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  31. "Pune: PMPML leaves commuters stranded; In 4 months, over 20,000 breakdowns & counting". The Indian Express. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  32. "Pune transport department to add 200 more 'midi' buses to fleet by June end". Hindustan Times. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  33. "Accident statistics driven by 'unfit' PMPML vehicles - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  34. "RTO penalises PMPML for overcrowded buses - Pune Mirror -". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  35. "AC fleet later, PMPML to purchase 800 new, regular buses for now - Pune Mirror -". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  36. "PMPML planning to buy diesel-run buses, activists call the move 'ridiculous'". The Indian Express. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  37. "Careful study must be undertaken before purchasing CNG or diesel buses by PMPML, says NGO - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  38. "Commuting in Pune to get easier as PMPML all set to buy 800 new buses". Hindustan Times. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  39. "Pune bus service not too fussy about environment". mid-day. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  40. "PMPML to add 500 AC electric buses to its fleet - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  41. "PMPML to float tender for 500 electric and 400 CNG buses". Hindustan Times. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  42. "For every bus parked at PMPML depots, another stands outside". The Indian Express. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  43. "Court hauls up PMPML driver for haphazard parking on arterial road - Pune Mirror -". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  44. "Shivajinagar traffic woes haunt citizens - Pune Mirror -". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  45. "Land from 2 octroi posts to ease PMPML parking woes - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  46. "Four sites approved for PMPML depots". The Indian Express. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  47. "Shivajinagar's PMPML bus stop has no seats - Pune Mirror -". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  48. "Mundhwa Rd bus stop keeps people standing - Pune Mirror -". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  49. "Can't sit it out at this Range Hills bus stop - Pune Mirror -". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  50. "Bus fire: Fourth case in 3 months, PMPML calls meeting of contractors". Hindustan Times. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  51. "2 PMPML buses catch fire, 22 passengers have narrow escape - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  52. "PMPML bus gutted in fire in Hadapsar - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  53. "CNG bus catches fire, 25 on board have a narrow escape - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  54. "Safety of PMPML bus commuters ablaze, say activists". Hindustan Times. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  55. "RTI exposes PMPML as Pune's major fire safety hazard". Hindustan Times. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  56. "PMPML buses prone to fire extinguisher theft: Officials - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  57. "RTO debunks PMPML's fire extinguisher claim - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  58. "Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited to conduct fire safety audit of buses - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  59. "Fire extinguishers on all buses by May-end - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
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References

See also
  • BEST Bus
  • MSRTC
  • Rainbow BRTS
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