PMPML's new CMD tells officials to devise a plan to bring down e-bus breakdowns within a month

Time of India

a day ago

Pankaj Deore, the new chairman and managing director of PMPML, has directed officials to devise a plan to bring down the number of e-bus breakdowns within a month.
As many as 160 e-buses, inducted into the fleet of
Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal
Ltd (PMPML) in 2019, have been facing multiple breakdowns, raising concern among officials of the transport utility.
According to figures provided by PMPML, June recorded a total of 1,127 e-bus breakdowns. Till July 22, 961 e-bus breakdowns were recorded.
The transport utility's joint managing director, Nitin Narvekar, admitted e-buses were encountering many breakdowns. "Presently, the e-bus fleet consists of 490 buses operated by private contractors. In 2019, these buses were inducted, and 160 of them joined the fleet in the first phase. These buses are facing multiple breakdowns mainly due to their degrading batteries. We are considering ways to salvage them," the official told TOI.
He added that they were trying to conduct battery balancing in these buses to reduce breakdowns. "This is an option we are considering. We will be talking to all private contractors to find a way to reduce the breakdowns. Most buses belonging to private contractors are facing breakdowns. However, e-buses are a concern, and we are looking at other ways to contain the situation," the senior official said.
Officials said battery balancing in EVs ensures that all the cells in the battery pack charge and discharge at the same rate, thus maximising their capacity and extending battery lifespan.
"Recently, the e-bus I was travelling in suddenly stopped and then did not start. I am paying fares and want proper service. PMPML got e-buses before many other public transport utilities in the country, and it is their job to maintain them properly. The administration is still not serious about controlling the breakdowns," Keshav Rajguru, a resident of Camp said.
Senior PMPML officials said Deore recently sent a letter to the Maharashtra chief secretary regarding changes in depot development plan. "The plan was announced around 2-3 years ago and involved private parties being leased land in PMPML depots for setting up commercial establishments for a period of 30 years. The same would be done under BoT (build-operate-transfer) model. The letter mentioned that the lease needed to be increased to 60 years, and only then would it attract private players, and PMPML would get non-fare revenue," another official said.
Pune: Pankaj Deore, the new chairman and managing director of PMPML, has directed officials to devise a plan to bring down the number of e-bus breakdowns within a month.
As many as 160 e-buses, inducted into the fleet of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) in 2019, have been facing multiple breakdowns, raising concern among officials of the transport utility.
According to figures provided by PMPML, June recorded a total of 1,127 e-bus breakdowns. Till July 22, 961 e-bus breakdowns were recorded.
The transport utility's joint managing director, Nitin Narvekar, admitted e-buses were encountering many breakdowns. "Presently, the e-bus fleet consists of 490 buses operated by private contractors. In 2019, these buses were inducted, and 160 of them joined the fleet in the first phase. These buses are facing multiple breakdowns mainly due to their degrading batteries. We are considering ways to salvage them," the official told TOI.
He added that they were trying to conduct battery balancing in these buses to reduce breakdowns. "This is an option we are considering. We will be talking to all private contractors to find a way to reduce the breakdowns. Most buses belonging to private contractors are facing breakdowns. However, e-buses are a concern, and we are looking at other ways to contain the situation," the senior official said.
Officials said battery balancing in EVs ensures that all the cells in the battery pack charge and discharge at the same rate, thus maximising their capacity and extending battery lifespan.
"Recently, the e-bus I was travelling in suddenly stopped and then did not start. I am paying fares and want proper service. PMPML got e-buses before many other public transport utilities in the country, and it is their job to maintain them properly. The administration is still not serious about controlling the breakdowns," Keshav Rajguru, a resident of Camp said.
Senior PMPML officials said Deore recently sent a letter to the Maharashtra chief secretary regarding changes in depot development plan. "The plan was announced around 2-3 years ago and involved private parties being leased land in PMPML depots for setting up commercial establishments for a period of 30 years. The same would be done under BoT (build-operate-transfer) model. The letter mentioned that the lease needed to be increased to 60 years, and only then would it attract private players, and PMPML would get non-fare revenue," another official said.