PMPML to hire 400 new CNG buses
Pune – Preparations are being made to provide the services of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus every five minutes on the main roads of the city and for this, 400 new CNG buses will be hired. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was positive about it on Tuesday, and the process of renting the buses will be started in the next few days, said PMPML director Siddharth Shirole.
There is a need to increase the frequency of buses on major routes in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The main roads are expected to get a bus every five minutes and 1800 buses are required for that. The number of diesel buses is getting reduced from contractors. At the same time, PMPML has some buses in very old condition. Additional buses are required to supplement these buses. Although the PMPML has decided to hire the e-bus, there is a need for ‘CNG’ buses.
“In the next few days, 400 CNG buses will be hired and we had discussion with Chief Minister Fadnavis about this. He is positive about hiring the buses, “said Shirole.
PMPML has decided to hire 150 e-buses for which tender has been invited. Up to January 26, 25 e-buses are expected to join the PMPML’s service. Apart from this, the decision to buy 500 CNG buses has been taken and the process is underway. Apart from this, 400 CNG buses will be hired. In this way about 1000 new buses will be in PMPML service, which will help in facilitating PMPML services in a better way. In the last few days, the number of old vehicles from PMPML has also increased and they have to be scrapped. Considering the stress of the increased commuters, about 150 buses are required to be added to the PMMPML every year. In this regard, Shirole said that the PMPML will be improving the service in the near future.
Private contractor again?
The current experience of private contractors in PMPML’s service is not good. The then PMPML CMD Tukaram Mundhe had imposed a penalty of around Rs 16 crores on these contractors. The action was taken because the driver of the private buses did not halt the buses for minimum required at the bus stops. Then why again contractors are being approached for 400 new CNG buses ?
