When will Pune politicians improve PMPML?

For decades together, Pune has continued to suffer from a poor bus service. The PMPML continues to limp with poor fleet strength and bad maintenance. While the city’s politicians have failed to improve the PMPML services, Puneites Speak Up on what needs to be done to bring in an effective public transport system in the city.

Preventive measures should be carried out & reports of the same should be made public
There should be at least 2,500 buses plying on the city’s roads, and they should be checked for capacity, quality and technical problems. The transport authority should use the available manpower efficiently. Preventive measures should be carried out for three years, and reports of the same should be made public.
The PMPML management is not accountable to the commuters. There have been 10 chairmen in last 3 years itself. The statement, issued by the PMPML that spare parts for the new buses are not easily available, is funny. It is a fact that there will be an increase in the number of commuters, and the PMPML cannot run away from the reality.
—Jugal Rathi, president, PMP Pravasi Manch

PMPML should make serious efforts to improvise and regularise the public transport system
We see everyone cribbing about the PMPML bus service and its inefficiency, but how many of us actually come forward to speak on this issue and work towards it. The answer to this question says it all. We are responsible for such incidents.

Change will take place only if we raise our voices, and fight for what we want. Being a resident of Pune, travelling by buses has been an integral part of my routine. I regularly travel from Hadapsar to Swargate. The condition of public transport today is such that if a commuter misses a bus, then s/he has to wait for at least 25 to 30 minutes for the next bus.

The public transport system does not value commuters’ time because of its monopoly in the market. The PMPML should make serious efforts to improvise and regularise the public transport system.
—Shakuntala Ghorpade, social activist

We have inducted new buses, and there will be sufficient number of
buses by February 2012
We do not have enough manpower to serve the
increased number of
commuters. Infrastructure bottlenecks still persist and the numbers of depots are less.
Most of the buses break down due to worn brake lining and tyre bursts. Scarcity of spare parts for the new buses has led to a rise in
maintenance costs.
We have decided to phase out the buses which have been in use for 10 years. We have inducted 210 new buses, and there will be sufficient number of buses in the fleet by
February 2012.
—Sunil Burse, chief engineer, PMPML

Regular maintenance, upgradation of buses will help ensure their efficiency
It is very shocking to know that so many buses are breaking down in the middle of the road these days. Instead of improving, the public transport system is getting worse by the day. I stay on Senapati Bapat Road and generally avoid travelling by bus, but when it comes to distant places I am left with no other option.
Timely checks, proper maintenance and upgradation of buses on a regular basis will help ensure their efficiency. Rushing the development of all routes at the same time will not prove to be beneficial; the issue needs to be resolved slowly. More importance should be given to areas that are not well connected.
—Mohan Kadam, schoolteacher

The city’s public transport system is inefficient in dealing with emergencies
Being a localite, commuting by PMPML buses is a part of my daily routine. I have had a first-hand experience of a bus breaking down while I was on my way to Hadapsar from Swargate. The bus stopped mid way due to some technical problem. It took us 10 minutes to realise that the bus will not start.

I was getting late for work and somehow managed to hire an autorickshaw. Such break downs do occur making it difficult for the commuters to reach their destinations on time.
Owning a vehicle is very necessary in a place like Pune where the public transport system is utterly inefficient in dealing with emergency situations.
—Samant Lakre, sound designer

Lack of buses restrict mobility of people who can’t afford autorickshaws
With so many buses being pulled out and scrapped every month, the commuters are facing a lot of problem. For people like us buses are the only mode of transport, as hiring an autorickshaw is not always affordable, and if the buses do not function properly, then it becomes very difficult for us to commute and it restricts mobility to an extent.

Another problem is that the buses are not well maintained. The seats of the buses are worn out and are not comfortable to sit in. Adding to this is the hygiene issue, as the buses are not cleaned properly. The government should seriously look into the matter before it turns out to be a situation beyond repair.
—Samuel Lokhande, senior citizen