Aam Aadmi Party Protests PMPML Bus Fare Hike, Warns of Increased Traffic and Pollution in Pune
Reported by Vikrant Sonawane
Pune, 18th May 2025: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest at Swargate Chowk on Sunday morning against the recent PMPML bus fare hike, calling it an anti-commuter move that will hurt the common man, reduce bus ridership, and worsen traffic congestion and air pollution in the city.
The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) board recently approved a steep increase in fares. The minimum ticket fare has been doubled from ₹5 to ₹10. Additionally, the daily pass has increased from ₹40 to ₹70, while the monthly pass has surged from ₹900 to ₹1,500.
“This fare hike breaks the back of ordinary Punekars, especially daily wage workers and low-income citizens,” said AAP state spokesperson Mukund Kirdat. “The administration claims it is to reduce PMPML’s annual deficit, but such a move will push commuters towards private two-wheelers, ultimately increasing road congestion and vehicle emissions.”
According to AAP, PMPML should instead focus on improving public transport efficiency, expanding fleet capacity, and eliminating corruption and inefficiencies. The party emphasized that better integration with Pune Metro’s end-mile connectivity would increase public transport usage and help reduce the deficit without burdening passengers.
Pune ranks fourth globally in terms of traffic congestion, AAP highlighted, urging the civic administration to draw lessons from countries like Luxembourg, Malta, France, and Brazil, which have made public transport either cheap or free.
“Public transport deficits are already being covered by the municipal corporation—ultimately the public is paying for it through taxes. There is no justification for doubling fares,” said AAP city president Sudarshan Jagdale.
The party has demanded that the District Collector intervene and reject the fare hike after consulting with passenger organizations and political representatives. AAP has warned of a more aggressive agitation if the hike is not rolled back.
Key members present during the protest included Senthil Iyer, Nilesh Wanjale, Naushad Ansari, Umesh Dixit, Subhash Karande, and several other AAP members.
