PMPML bus drivers log 300 km a day with broken windshield

On Wednesday afternoon,49-year-old Dattatrya Kamble was struggling to steer a PMPML bus from Nigdi to Katraj,a distance of 40 km.

On Wednesday afternoon,49-year-old Dattatrya Kamble was struggling to steer a PMPML bus from Nigdi to Katraj,a distance of 40 km. Reason: The bus,MH-12 FC 3305,had a broken front windshield and he was finding it difficult to spot vehicles on the chaotic roads of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

I have been driving the bus for two months. I have been driving with a broken windshield for the last one month. During the day,I find it difficult to drive on cluttered city roads,but somehow manage it. During the night,it is very difficult as light from passing vehicles refracts and hits your eyes, said Kamble,who has 15 years of driving experience. In the last one month,three drivers in three shifts had to drive the bus that makes 5-6 trips a day. Every day the bus logs 300 km.

Katraj bus depot manager Vilas Gawde said,We have four-five buses with broken front glasses. We did not ply them on roads. As for this particular bus,I will have to check whether it belongs to our depot. If so,we will fix the glass. PMPML chief engineer Sunil Burse said,There were some 15-16 buses which had broken glasses. We are in the process of fixing them. PMPML has been facing financial crunch. Each glass cost Rs 25,000,which is quite big for cash-strapped PMPML.

Burse said the problem of broken front and back glasses is common. It has been happening regularly. Besides,we have problem with parking the buses as the depots lack space. Buses are mostly parked on roads where they are targeted by revellers, he said.

Jugal Rathi of PMP Pravasi Manch said PMPML buses are getting increasingly involved in accidents,. Each depots has many such buses. The drivers deserves praise,but can PMPML guarantee there will not be any accident? he said.

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