1 day Ago By Joy Sengupta
Pune: PMPML recorded an 8% increase in bus breakdowns in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year. According to the figures provided by the transport utility, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) buses suffered 4,567 breakdowns between Jan and March this year. Altogether 4,252 buses suffered breakdowns during the same period last year.
Sachin Joshi, who was on his way to Sarasbaug from Golibar Maidan last month, said the bus he was travelling in suddenly stopped a few metres ahead of PMPML office. It was around 2 pm. All passengers got down and stood in the heat, covering their faces and heads with bags or anything they had with them.
Soon, I began to feel uneasy and was forced to hire an autorickshaw. For years, PMPML has been providing pathetic services to commuters with no scope for improvement," Joshi, a working professional, said. Last year, more than 15,700 breakdowns were recorded by PMPML.
"A majority of buses belonging to private contractors suffered breakdowns. The number of breakdowns suffered by PMPML-owned buses has come down. If one looks at March figures this year, while 499 buses owned by PMPML grounded to a halt during trips, 1,181 buses belonging to private contractors suffered breakdowns," Kishore Chauhan, the PRO of PMPML, said.
In an earlier conversation, a senior PMPML official told TOI that that their engineers also check buses belonging to private contractors to ensure that they operate properly and don't suffer breakdowns. "I don't think the same is being followed now. Otherwise, how can so many private contractor buses continue to suffer problems? Moreover, why is PMPML segregating their own buses and those belonging to private contractor? For passengers like us, all buses are PMPML buses," Parthav Bhosle, another frequent commuter and a Camp resident, said.
Recently, PMPML decided some CNG buses would be present in five e-depots so that breakdown of e-buses don't lead to trip cancellations. "The officials are coming up with different plans but not dealing with the real issue — proper maintenance of buses. Why should passengers keep suffering like this all the time? Does PMPML have any proper vision to curtail breakdowns?" Sanjay Shitole of PMP Pravasi Manch said.
Pranjali Deshpande, transport planner and a trustee of Parisar, said, "Procurement of buses by PMPML has been very slow. This is resulting in an increase in private vehicle ownership." Prakhar Sinha, a resident of Punavale and a working professional, said, "Why should I even try to board a PMPML bus? For so long, the breakdown figures have been almost identical.
It shows that nothing has been done to fix major issues.".
