500 new buses to increase PMPML fleet to 1500
Procurement of 500 buses under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited(PMPML), was approved by the Union government on Thursday. The move would help in bolstering the public transport system in the city.
On Thursday, a meeting was held between the JNNURM officials and the stakeholders, during which the development was confirmed. The Municipal Commissioner informed that the Pune Municipal Corporation would be allotted with 365 buses while 135 buses would be provided to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. He also informed that the exact date on which the buses would make an entry on the roads, is not yet decided.
As per market reports, a proposal for about 1670 buses was put forward by the PMPML, through JNNURM, to the Union Government. However the same was not sanctioned.
The sanctioned buses would most probably be CNG-equipped, as informed by the commissioner. He informed that since the proposal is approved, tender would now be issued for manufacturing and supply.
A proposal for purchase of mini buses that are 29-seaters, to ply along the downtown and Peth region, was also made by the civic administration. It was approved by the state government in September and has been forwarded to the central government for further approvals.
PMPML currently caters to the traveling needs of more than 8 lac of commuters on a daily basis, with bus services provided by about 1000 buses across the cities. It has 10 main depots and 20 main stations in the city.
