Pravasi Manch, AAP fight fare war, want Rs5 for 5km

In order to spread awareness against exorbitant bus fare charged by Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), members of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and PMP Pravasi Manch distributed over 1,500 pamphlets at the Hadapsar bus depot on Wednesday.

College students, working professionals, businessmen came and spread the message of “mission Rs5 for 5 kilometers” besides noting down problems that bus commuters are facing on a daily basis.

Syed Hussain (62), a resident of Vaiduwadi, Hadapsar said, “Frequency of buses, especially on the internal roads in Hadapsar, is a major issue. Moreover the buses do not halt at the designated bus stops. The fare should be revised. In the present condition, even if I have to travel less than two kilometres, I have to pay Rs10 for it.”

Sudhakar Deshpande (62), resident of Hadapsar said, “I have a small business. For that I have to travel to different parts of the city. Most of the times the bus conductor do not come to give tickets. They only stand at the bus stops and give us tickets at per their convenience. I have even complained at the PMPML complaint number, however nothing is been done in this regard.”

President of PMP Pravasi Manch, Jugal Rathi said, “More than 80,000 passengers travel from Hadapsar bus depot in some 206 odd buses daily. PMPML buses are for the public, however they are charging exorbitant fare from the passengers. Our main focus is to get the rate down to Rs5 for five kilometres. We will continue our agitation and spread message until the PMPML revises the fare. We also urge the daily commuters to call on PMPML helpline and raise their voice for the same.”