Double-Decker Buses Return to Pune After 20 Years, Launch Expected in December
Pune, 2nd October 2025: Pune is set to welcome back double-decker buses after nearly 20 years, with the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) planning to operate 25 electric double-decker buses on five city routes starting late December or early January next year.
The new buses, procured from Chennai, will run entirely on electricity. PMPML originally introduced double-decker buses in 1984, but services were discontinued in 1995 due to high maintenance costs.
“There were plans to reintroduce double-decker buses in 2018-19, but the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the initiative,” said a PMPML official. “The fare structure will likely be similar to that of regular buses.”
Pankaj Deore, CMD of PMPML, which operates around 1,700 buses daily, confirmed that a 15-day trial run of the new electric buses had been successful. “We have decided to run five buses on each of five routes. Pune Municipal Corporation has shared the proposed routes with us, and we have requested the authorities to trim some tree branches to ensure smooth operation,” he said.
Deore added that the board of PMPML, commissioners of PMC and PCMC, CEO of PMRDA, and Pune Regional Transport Officer have approved the plan. “They are satisfied with the proposal. The tender process to procure the buses on a gross cost contract model will begin soon.”
The buses are primarily targeted at Pune’s IT hubs, with trials already conducted on four routes: Hinjewadi Phase-3, Ramwadi Metro station to International Tech Park in Kharadi, Magarpatta City to Kalyaninagar Metro station, and Pune railway station to Lohgaon Airport via Vimannagar. The fifth route is expected to be finalized shortly. Services will operate across PMC, PCMC, and PMRDA areas.
