400 PMPML buses do not roll as civic bodies drag their feet on financial aid

PMPML officials attribute the precarious financial condition to the attitude of officials and corporators.

3 min readPuneDec 30, 2014 05:27 AM IST

There is no money to buy spare parts or fuel for the 400 vehicles that remain stranded.

As many as 400 buses of PMPML, the transport service run by the civic body, remain stranded as the public transport body is running short of money to purchase spare parts or fuel.

The PMPML has been losing Rs 10,000 daily on running each bus of its fleet that carries more than 50 commuters at a time, and this in effect makes a Rs 40-lakh dent on PMPML every day.

PMPML (Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited) officials attribute the precarious financial condition to the attitude of officials and corporators of the Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation which they said do not extend timely financial assistance. Both PMC and PCMC are supposed to pay Rs 72 crore as financial assistance. But both have been dragging their feet on it.

PMPML chairman and managing director Shrikar Pardeshi said, “We received some amount from both corporations, but are waiting for Rs 72 crore. This amount includes their share in giving free bus passes to school students and also their share of operational losses.”
PMC is supposed to give Rs 46 crore and PCMC Rs 26 crore. When contacted, PCMC commissioner Rajiv Jadhav said his administration will provide Rs 12 crore to PMPML by “tomorrow”.

“We will get the amount approved in tomorrow’s general body meeting. The remaining will be paid in a short time,” he said. Jadhav attributed the delay to lack of budgetary provisions for the transport undertaking in the PCMC budget.

“There was no provision in the budget for PMPML. We had to divert funds from other heads,” he said.

PMC commissioner Kunal Kumar said that in a day or two, PMC will pay Rs 15 crore to PMPML. “The remaining will be paid in installments later,” he said. Kumar said PMC has paid Rs 144 crore to PMC this year so far. “In all, we will pay Rs 190 crore to PMPML this year. We are doing our best to help out PMPML,” he said.

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Pardeshi said they have been unable to run nearly 400 buses. “We can’t purchase spare parts or fuel them. These buses, and their conductors and drivers are idle. If these buses run daily, our Rs 40 lakh deficit a day will come down in no time and we will break even…”

PMPML is also trying to convince the employees’ union to part with Rs 50 crore received from civic bodies as the Sixth Pay Commission salary arrears. “For a temporary period, we have requested the union to allow us to use Rs 50 crore and when PMC and PCMC provide their share, we will return the amount,” he said.

Jugal Rathi of PMP Pravasi Manch said, “This reflects the casual approach of civic bodies towards running PMPML. If PMC and PCMC take active interest, there is no reason for the transport organisation to run into losses,” he said.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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