Pune: PMPML To Start Bus Services From September 3
Pune, August 21, 2020: The wait is finally over. The buses of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) will start services in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad from September 3 ie after the Ganeshotsav.
Yesterday, PMPML Chairman and Managing Director Rajendra Jagtap, PMC Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar and PCMC Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar decided the date to restart the city bus services. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had earlier given the go-ahead to start the services as PMPML has suffered huge losses during the pandemic lockdown.
PMPML CMD Jagtap said that from 3rd September, a total of 480 buses which is 25 percent of the buses from each of the 13 depots will start plying. “The buses will run at 50 percent seating capacity and there will be no standing passengers. Circles have been made at busy bus stands to ensure physical distancing among commuters,” said Jagtap.
The buses will initially ply on shorter routes with fewer stops to ensure minimum time spent in buses by passengers while travelling. Some of the routes are to Kothurd, Swargate to Katraj, Pune Railway Station to Hadapsar, among others. On busier routes, the buses will ply at an interval of 10 minutes, PMPML officials said.
According to officials, the bus services were to start from August 22 but the date was postponed as it was feared that people will come out in large number during the Ganpati festival. The administration has banned processions during the festival and has appealed to celebrate at home only.
