Pune: PMPML to Replace Old Buses with 600 New CNG Vehicles
Pune, 5th March 2025: To ensure a safer and more comfortable commute, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal (PMPML) has decided to acquire 600 pollution-free CNG buses within the next three months. This initiative will replace old, dilapidated buses with eco-friendly, air-conditioned alternatives, enhancing passenger comfort.
PMPML Managing Director Deepa Mudhol Munde stated, “The lifespan of both self-owned and contracted buses in our fleet has expired, with many exceeding 12 years. The process of inducting new buses was already underway. Within three months, 600 eco-friendly, air-conditioned CNG buses will join the fleet, with 400 PPP-based buses arriving next month.”
According to the PMPML administration, out of the 600 new buses, 400 will be added to the fleet next month (April) under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, while 200 self-owned buses will be inducted by the end of June.
PMPML provides transport services across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and PMRDA limits. Many contractor-operated buses have exceeded their lifespan, leading to the removal of over 250 buses from the fleet. As a result, PMPML’s fleet size has decreased, with some 12-year-old self-owned buses still in operation. Currently, the total number of buses stands at approximately 1,654, affecting service efficiency.
In a board meeting held in October last year, PMPML approved the purchase of 600 new buses—400 under the PPP model and 200 as self-owned assets. While the procurement process for the PPP-based buses has been completed, the purchase of self-owned buses is in its final stages.
