Mini-buses on cards for city's narrow roads

If sources in the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) are to be believed, then Puneites may soon see mini-buses running on the city roads.

A PMPML proposal to this effect has been already approved by the state government and is awaiting the Centre’s sanction. The mini-buses have been proposed specially for the narrow lanes of the city to reduce traffic congestion on such routes.

Keeping the prolonged issue of traffic jams in the narrow lanes in different parts of the city in mind, PMPML had proposed 163 mini-buses and 25 articulated buses to ply on four different routes in the city.

PMPML officials said that they had submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) last month in this regard to the state government. It included a proposal to purchase mini-buses and articulated buses.

Joint managing director of PMPML Pravin Ashtikar said, “We have got the approval from the state government for the mini-buses and articulated buses. Now the proposal needs a sanction from the central government and if it is done, we will have the funds within a week’s time.”

Asked if they identified the routes where the mini buses would ply, Ashtikar said it would be those narrow lanes where it is difficult for big buses to ply, such as Peth areas, Apte Road, parts of Pune Camp, and lanes of Koregaon Park.

“For the first time, we will have 25 articulated buses that will be plying on four different routes which are straight roads and have enough space for the buses to turn without any hassle,” he said.

President of PMP Pravasi Manch, Jugal Rathi, said, “Mini buses are must for those areas in the city which have narrow roads. Normal buses occupy the entire part of a road in the Peth area as these roads have a width of 15 to 20 metres. Many roads in Pune Camp and Koregaon Park areas have narrow lanes.”

Mini buses will ply on routes where the width of the road is 15 and 20 metres. The buses are for all the peth areas such as Laxmi Road, Tilak Road, Apte Road, and Koregaon Park Lane and Central junction in Pimpri.