Passengers face hardships as PMPML drivers go on strike

The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) passengers faced hardships on Thursday after the drivers and conductors working on a contract basis went on a flash strike for non-payment of their salaries for the past two months. Nearly 66 buses of NT wadi bus depot and 25 from Kothrud depot remained off the road.

The flash strike put passengers to inconvenience as they had to wait for hours together at the bus stops. Veejeta Shegal (44), a resident of Kothrud said, “It was a nightmare as the frequency of the buses was very low and no one knew what was happening. It was only after we asked the depot manager, we came to know about the strike.”

Shivendra Singh (38), a resident of Vimannagar said, “I was wondering why there were so few buses on the road. I had to wait for at least half an hour before I could get the bus.”

Another passenger, Rupesh Tupe (55) from Aundh said, “There was no prior intimation given by the PMPML. These days, buses going off the road has become very common and the officials are just not bothered about the citizens.”

PMPML public relations officer Deepak Pardeshi said, “There were 91 buses off the road but we managed to run 77 buses. We will do our best to provide satisfactory service to our passengers.” The Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) are yet to pay Rs 43 crore to the contractual workers.