Pune: PMPML Orders Full-Scale Fire Safety Audit of All Buses After Blaze on PCMC Route
Pune, 21st November 2025: Following a recent fire incident on a bus operating along the Pimpri-Chinchwad–Bhosari corridor, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has initiated a comprehensive review of its entire fleet for fire safety. The Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) has been appointed to conduct the inspection, which is scheduled to commence within the next two weeks.
Officials said the audit will focus on whether each bus is equipped with functional fire extinguishers and a working Fire Detection and Suppression System (FDSS). In parallel, PMPML plans to organise dedicated sessions for drivers and conductors to ensure they are trained to use extinguishers effectively in emergencies.
The fire, reported on Sunday, did not result in injuries but triggered significant concerns regarding fleet safety. PMPML has described the audit as a preventive step aimed at identifying mechanical or electrical faults before they escalate.
As part of broader safety measures, PMPML will brief all drivers on accident-prone “black spots” across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad—14 locations under PMC limits and nine under PCMC limits.
Additionally, drivers will undergo breath-analyzer tests at various public checkpoints to ensure they are not operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol. Depot managers and checking staff will supervise this activity.
The public transport utility currently has around 60 buses that are either 12 years old or have clocked more than 8 lakh kilometres. Under the national vehicle scrappage policy, 30 of these ageing vehicles will be phased out within the next two days.
These decisions were finalised during a meeting on transportation safety chaired by PMPML management, with participation from the Traffic Police and the Regional Transport Office (RTO), PMPML Chairman and Managing Director Pankaj Devre said.
