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Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Resolve issues before hiking fare: Commuters tell Pune transport utility
1 2 3 Pune: The city transport body is facing backlash from commuters over its decision to restructure and increase its bus fare from June 1. Passengers said Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has failed to provide basic services and address issues such as buses not arriving on time and frequent breakdowns. As per the new structure, the minimum fare has been doubled from Rs5 to Rs10. The daily and monthly passes, which earlier cost Rs40 and Rs900, respectively, are now priced at Rs70 and Rs1500. "The revision of ticket pricing now aligns with kilometre-based stages to simplify fare calculations and operations," Kishore Chauhan, the public relations officer with the transport body, told TOI. At present, PMPML has a fleet of around 2,100 buses. Regular commuters said the fare hike is a burden without any benefits. Rahul Atmaram Mane, a resident of Camp, said, "If losses are a justification for PMPML to hike fares, they are on the wrong track. Almost all public transportation bodies in the world operate on losses. PMPML has been unable to provide a safe and comfortable service in the past several years. If there are little to no facilities, why are they increasing the fares in the guise of restructuring?" the working professional, who often commutes by bus, said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo Another commuter, Sheetal Balaji Sutar, said, "Basic issues like the timing of buses, cleanliness, rampant breakdowns, lack of bus shelters, etc., remain the same even after many years. Can the PMPML guarantee that all this will improve once the fare hike comes into play? Can they give it to commuters in writing?" A PMPML official said the fare hike was needed. "The transport body suffered an operational loss of Rs734 crore in 2023-24. The same increased three times since 2017-18. In 2017-18, the total operational loss stood at Rs204 crore. Also, the last time the PMPML saw a fare hike was back in 2014. In 2022, we proposed to hike the fare, but the board rejected the increase. The costs of diesel and CNG have increased, and so have the costs of the buses which we get from the manufacturers. People should support us in this," the official told TOI. The daily operational fleet is between 1,400 and 1,500 buses. The transport body needs at least 2,500 more buses, but the procurement process has been slow. Of the total 400 new CNG buses that were set to join the fleet by this month, only 192 have arrived so far. Also, PMPML has been awaiting new 160 e-buses for the last few months. Abhay Das, a Kharadi resident who shifted to travelling by his car, said, "Earlier I used to travel by bus two to three times a week, but now I have stopped taking the bus. It is not worth it. The fare hike does not make sense if facilities are not being provided." PMPML's daily average income is around Rs1.5 crore. Around 11 to 12 lakh passengers use the service each day. "We have lost customers. Earlier, we used to cater to around 13 lakh passengers daily. The fact is that we need more buses to cater to the passengers," another PMPML official said on the condition of anonymity. Last week, Aam Aadmi Party staged a protest against the fare hike at Swargate. Mukul Kirdat, state spokesperson of AAP, called the fare hike anti-commuter. He said the price increase puts a heavy financial burden on people with low-income groups. PMP Pravasi Manch's senior member Sanjay Shitole called the rise illegal. "We are writing a letter to the district collector, who is the head of the regional transport authority (RTA), asking him to intervene. PMPML's performance has worsened, and each day they are cancelling many trips. This is affecting more than 30,000 passengers. The hike will be a major burden on many people," Shitole told TOI.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Two days of heavy rain lead to breakdown of 150 PMPML buses
Pune: In the last two days, 150 PMPML buses broke down causing inconvenience and hassling commuters in what was the second-highest number of daily bus breakdowns since July, last year, said officials of the transport utility. "There were 61 breakdowns on May 19 and 89 on May 20. However, it is less compared to breakdowns on July 24 and 25, last year. The reasons are rain and its after-effects," public relations officer of the transport body Kishore Chauhan told TOI. "I was travelling in a bus from Pune Municipal Corporation building towards the Raja Bahadur Mills Road around 6pm. The bus stopped suddenly and the driver said it wouldn't go further because a tyre had a puncture. All passengers struggled till another PMPML bus arrived. Many who got off were drenched while they looked for other means of transport," said Parag Seere, a daily commuter. On Wednesday morning, PMPML CMD Deepa Mudhol Munde was in a PMPML bus which broke down at Pulgate. Munde was travelling from Shevalwadi to Kothrud on a new CNG bus belonging to a private contractor in a bid to interact with passengers. She had to switch to her car. Meanwhile, in the two days of July, last year, PMPML had recorded 233 breakdowns. On July 24, the number stood at 105 and 128 on July 25. On any regular day, daily breakdowns are between 48 and 50, officials said. "On Tuesday, we tried to control the breakdowns, but it was raining very heavily. Water entered the electrical circuits of many buses, while others faced the problem of punctured tyres. Vehicles operated by private contractors witnessed far more faults than those owned by PMPML. Only 19 PMPML-owned buses suffered breakdowns on May 20 and 17 on May 19. Rental buses, including e-buses, were stuck in major traffic jams on practically all roads in the evenings. We are talking to contractors and directing them to do all maintenance required for buses to operate without problems," a senior PMPML official said.
Express Tribune
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Minorities denounce India's warmongering
A powerful display of unity as minority community members stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Pakistan's armed forces, celebrating the nation's diversity and strength. PHOTO: Express The Sikh, Hindu, and Christian communities living in the metropolitan city have condemned India's allegations regarding the Pahalgam attack, asserting that the Modi government is responsible for the killing of tourists. Leaders from these minority communities stressed that minorities in India remain vulnerable and unsafe, while in Pakistan, minorities enjoy full religious freedom and protection. Speaking to The Express Tribune during a visit to Narayanpura in the Ranchore Line area-an historic settlement known for its interfaith harmony-minority leaders unanimously rejected India's accusations and reiterated their unwavering support for Pakistan. Kishore Chauhan, a Hindu social worker and long-time resident of Narayanpura, explained that the compound, home to Hindu, Sikh, and Christian communities for over a century, fosters religious coexistence, with temples, churches, and gurdwaras situated side by side. He highlighted the community's strong unity under the Pakistani flag. Deepak Ramesh, a Hindu community leader, criticized the Modi government, stating that since Modi came to power, minorities in India have faced severe oppression. He called the Pahalgam incident a "fabricated drama" intended to malign Pakistan but noted that the plan has backfired, as dissent against Modi's administration grows even within India. Waseem Singh, a Sikh leader, emphasized that Sikhs in Pakistan experience complete religious freedom, pointing to the respectful treatment of Sikh pilgrims and the security of their gurdwaras. He warned that any aggression by India against Pakistan would come at a heavy cost, and alleged that India, not Pakistan, had violated the Indus Waters Treaty through its actions. Sandeep Singh, another Sikh community member, echoed these sentiments, dismissing Indian media allegations against Pakistan as baseless. He affirmed the Sikh community's loyalty to Pakistan and revealed that special prayers for national safety were being held in gurdwaras. Hindu resident Mukesh Solangi stressed that Hindus in Pakistan regularly pray for the country's security and expressed confidence in the Pakistan Army's capability to defend the homeland against any Indian aggression. Christian residents of Narayanpura also voiced their firm support. Shamshad Masih and Kenk Javed both condemned India's narrative and labeled the Pahalgam incident a staged drama. Shehzad Gill, a young Christian from the area, stated that daily prayers are offered for Pakistan's integrity and safety. Young women from the Hindu community-Rina, Disha, and Pervi-affirmed their belief in the strength of Pakistan's military, while Ajeet Kaur, a Sikh woman, warned India to recall its past defeats in wars against Pakistan before contemplating any new hostile actions. She stressed that women from all minority groups stand shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Army. During the visit, slogans were raised in support of the Pakistan Army, and special prayers were offered across temples, churches, and gurdwaras for the country's prosperity and peace. The minority communities reiterated their unity under the Pakistani flag and urged the international community to restrain India's aggressive posture toward Pakistan.
