PMPML to Scrap 350 Old Buses and Introduce 1,600 New Ones

Report by The Newsage Pune.

PMPML Announced Plans to Scrap 350 Old Buses for New CNG Ones

Pune is set for a significant public transport overhaul, with the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) announcing plans to scrap 350 old buses and introduce 1,600 to 1,700 new vehicles in a phased upgrade.

The city’s current fleet of 1,800 buses is inadequate for the rapidly growing population, with an estimated requirement of 3,500 buses. Overpopulation in the recent years has made commuting quite a task for daily passengers.

PMPML has announced plans to scrap 350 old buses and introduce 1,600 to 1,700 new vehicles in a phased upgrade in the city. With rapid overpopulation in the city, the number of existing public buses is inadequate to fulfil the needs of commuters. Deputy Chief Minister has assured funding for the CNG buses.

To back this project up, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced a ₹500 crore allocation to purchase 1,000 new CNG buses, with funding from various local authorities. To add to the positive response, PMPML's app "Aapli PMPML" has become increasingly popular, generating ₹20 lakh in daily revenue and exceeding 6 lakh downloads. The city faces growing traffic congestion and pollution, and a more efficient bus network is seen as crucial to alleviate these issues.

Commuters have expressed concerns about overcrowding and delays. Hence, this transformation should be underway with immediate effect. The introduction of CNG-powered buses aligns with Pune's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and improve air quality that is the dire need of the city now since it only seems to get worse by the day. This initiative aims to modernize urban mobility, encourage public transport usage, and support Pune's sustainability goals in the long run.