29-05-2025
For passenger safety, Police patrolling urged along PMPML bus routes
By Siddhi Patil
In response to growing concerns over passenger safety, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has formally requested the Pune City Police to initiate regular patrolling across major bus stations and heavily crowded routes in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and the PMRDA region.
PMPML, which operates the city's public transport services, currently runs around 20,112 bus trips daily on 381 routes, catering to nearly 10 to 11 lakh commuters. Despite efforts to provide efficient, affordable, and secure transport, the organisation has been receiving numerous complaints from passengers, especially women and students, about security issues during travel.
According to PMPML, passengers increasingly face theft of wallets and valuables, eve-teasing, and vandalisation of BRT stations with obscene content. These incidents, often taking place during daily operations, have led to a growing sense of insecurity among women, school children, and college students.
To tackle these challenges, PMPML has appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Pune City, to deploy police personnel for regular patrolling during peak hours at key bus stands and along high-footfall routes.
The following major bus stations have been flagged as requiring immediate security presence:
Swargate Main Bus Station, Deccan Stand, Katraj Main Station, Market Yard, Pune Station, Hadapsar Depot, Wagholi Bus Stand, Nigdi Pradhikaran, Pimpri Ambedkar Chowk, Chinchwad, Bhosari, and several others across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
PMPML has listed 28 crowded bus routes where policing is essential. These include:
– Swargate to Shivajinagar (Route 2)
– Swargate to Pune Station (Route 5)
– Katraj to Alandi (Route 29)
– Hadapsar to Katraj via Mhatrawadi (Route 188)
– Nigdi to PMC (Route 123)
– Wagholi to Warje Malwadi (Route 98)
– Shewalewadi to Katraj (Route 301)
And many more extending from Bhekarainagar to NDA, and Katraj to Bhosari, Chinchwadgaon, and Kharadi
These routes have been marked based on passenger volume and frequency of reported issues.
The directive for enhanced security measures comes directly from the Chairman and Managing Director of PMPML, who has emphasized the need for visible and active police presence to deter criminal and anti-social behaviour, and restore a sense of safety among daily commuters.
