Pune: Passengers To Face Inconvenience Due To Lack Of Bus Stops; PMPML To Build 300 Bus Stops By End Of September
Pune, 19th April 2023: Due to the rising temperature in the city and unseasonal rains for three consecutive days, there was a huge rush of passengers traveling by PMPML, especially women employees and senior citizens. As there are no Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) bus stands on most of the routes in the city and suburbs, the passengers waiting at the open bus stop had to wait for the bus while getting drenched in the rain. From this, the issue of PMPML not constructing new bus stands after removing the old bus stands has come into the discussion.
After removing the old bus stands on the main roads in the city and suburbs, it was decided by the PMPML administration to construct new stainless steel bus stands with modern facilities. New stops would be set up with the help of advertisers.
However, in the last four years, the PMPML has decided to change the rules of the bus stops as they are not getting any response even after calling the tenders six times in the last four years.
Reportedly, the administration believes that the new rules have been changed by considering the suggestions of advertisers and contractors, and they will get a good response. However, it is expected to complete the said work by September 2023, passengers will have to wait in the open space during the summer and monsoon season.
PMPML reportedly has about 9,000 bus stops under both the routes connecting the three regions namely Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and PMRDA. But, only 1,320 places have shielded stops. There are 120 stops of BRT. PMPML is also failing to provide facilities like a bus stand. Due to a lack of funds, the administration is not getting advertisers.
PMPML released a tender for 1,500 bus stands in 2020-21, then again for 1500, and twice for 600 bus stands. The tender process was again conducted for 300 bus stands in February-March, but no response was received even after the extension of the deadline.
Eventually, a stainless steel bus stand should be constructed on a BOT basis. Rs four lakh cost limit for constructing a bus stand, ownership of bus stands will be with PMPML after 15 years, advertising income to PMPML from bus stands has been changed to six per cent instead of 10 per cent per annum.
The new tender process will be completed in May. After the tender approval, the concerned contractor has been given a dateline to construct the first 100 bus stops and then another 100 bus stops within 45 days to 90 days from the date of the contract, and the remaining 100 bus stops within 135 to 180 days in the last phase. This work will be completed in September.
Omprakash Bakoria, Chairman and Managing Director, PMPML informed, “Due to the fact that there was no response to the tenders for newly constructed bus stands, it was decided to make appropriate changes in the tender rules. Therefore, a new tender process will be implemented once again. After that, the work of the bus stand will be speedy.”
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