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Journalism of Courage
Ninety percent of buses running under the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) are using cleaner fuels, of which 67 percent are running on CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), while 23 percent of buses running are Electric Vehicles (EV), the newly appointed CMD, Sanjay Kolte of PMPML said at the inaugural of NexGen Mobility Show 2023 on Friday held at Deccan College Ground in Pune.
He said, “Right from the beginning of the operation of the transport body, we have endeavoured to bring more sustainability to public transportation. Currently, only 10 percent of the total fleet operates on diesel, and this will be gradually phased out in the coming years.”
During a conversation with the Indian Express, the CMD mentioned that the PMPML’s commitment to sustainability and urban mobility solutions began in 2009, currently there are a total of 2119 buses, out of which 1431 buses are running on CNG and 473 being electric vehicle buses.
While discussing the second initiative, he talked about the functionality of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) concerning the overcrowded traffic in the city.
He said that BRTS roots operate in Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) which gives median dedicated lanes for the buses along the well placed bus stoppages. “From the perspective of urban mobility, this system conserves fuel and enhances the total running kilometres,” he added.
When questioned about PMPML’s initiatives to increase public awareness regarding the use of public transportation, he indicated that one of their strategies involves boosting the visibility of their social media profiles and other helpline numbers. He said that this approach aims to raise awareness among people to choose PMPML as an environmentally friendly option.
“We are introducing our app, which will serve not only for ticketing and tracking bus schedules but will also provide users with information about our schemes and upcoming initiatives,” said Kolte, who also serves as the CEO of Pune Smart City Development Corporation Limited (PSCDL).
Discussing the collective efforts of the PMPML and PSCDCL in the mobility solution, the CEO said that these two bodies had previously worked together to mitigate the carbon emissions in the city. He said, “The first batch of 150 PMPML EV buses in the city was procured with the help of subsidies provided by the Smart City Mission Grant. Although the tendering process was under PMPML, the subsidy of 50 lakh rupees per bus was provided by the PSCDCL.”
