Pune: PMPML Faces Revenue Loss as Ticketless Travelers Surge; Strict Checks and Heavy Fines Enforced
Pune, 29th May 2025: Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) is grappling with a growing challenge as ticketless travelers continue to drain its revenues. Despite a reduction in the number of buses and a decline in overall income, the daily detection of 60–70 fare-evading passengers, and likely many more undetected, has added to PMPML’s woes. In response, the administration has intensified ticket-checking operations to curb this trend.
PMPML serves commuters in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) areas, with approximately 10 lakh passengers using its buses daily. These operations typically generate between Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 crore in daily revenue. However, the number of ticketless travelers is on the rise, prompting PMPML to deploy ticket inspection squads across all bus routes in these jurisdictions.
Inspections are conducted at bus stops and during journeys, with 50–60 ticketless passengers caught daily, though the actual number of evaders is believed to be much higher. Those caught without a ticket, which can cost as little as Rs 5 to Rs 100, face a hefty fine of Rs 500. Despite this, many continue to risk traveling without a ticket to save a small amount, only to end up paying a much larger penalty if caught.
PMPML collects around Rs 8–9 lakh per month in fines from ticketless travelers. Over the past year, the administration has penalized 18,170 fare evaders, recovering Rs 91 lakh in fines. The PMPML administration urges passengers to purchase tickets and avoid harsh penalties, emphasizing that strict checks and hefty fines will remain in place to protect public transport revenues.
