Pune: PMPML to Get Rs 23.11 Crore from PMC for Free and Concessional Bus Passes
Pune, 5th November 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved a payment of ₹23.11 crore to the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) towards reimbursement for free and concessional bus passes issued to students, senior citizens, freedom fighters, journalists and civic employees during the financial year 2025-26.
The PMC Standing Committee approved the proposal after examining the claims submitted by PMPML. Although the civic administration’s departments recommended reimbursement of ₹34.87 crore, the amount has been restricted to ₹23.11 crore due to insufficient budgetary provision.
PMPML had initially sought ₹36.18 crore for the bus passes issued under various schemes during 2025-26. After scrutiny by the concerned PMC departments, a payment of ₹34.87 crore was recommended.
The reimbursement covers annual, half-yearly and quarterly student passes, as well as passes issued at 50% concessional rates. It also includes free passes for senior citizens, freedom fighters, meritorious individuals and PMC employees.
The Information and Public Relations Department recommended reimbursement of ₹71,300 towards free bus passes issued to reporters working for daily and weekly newspapers.
However, the departments did not recommend PMPML’s claim of ₹1.27 crore towards 22-day passenger punching passes, contributing to the difference between the amount originally claimed and the amount recommended for reimbursement.
Meanwhile, PMPML had approached the PMC seeking an advance payment of ₹33 crore before Diwali to distribute ex-gratia payments and bonuses to its employees. Against this backdrop, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram placed the reimbursement proposal before the Standing Committee.
The PMC’s 2026-27 budget has an allocation of ₹23.11 crore for reimbursement of bus pass concessions. To release the entire recommended amount of ₹34.87 crore, the civic body would need an additional ₹11.77 crore.
The payment to PMPML will be made from the available budgetary provision after approval from the PMC General Body.
