PMPML welcomes no-vehicle zone but wants losses reimbursed

Favouring the proposal of no-vehicle zone in the city, the PMPML has conveyed to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) that it would extend full support to the initiative that would involve nominal fare for passengers using public transport in the zone but the civic body should pay for the financial loss that will be incurred by the public transport company.

Congress corporator Ulhas alias Abba Bagul had tabled a proposal in the standing committee for implementing no-vehicle zone  to resolve the traffic problem and reduce the air pollution. “The implementation of no-vehicle zone would help in improving the environment of the city and also encourage citizens for using the public transport system,” he said.

The committee had forwarded the proposal to PMPML. In its response, the PMPML said the idea was good and the public transport company would support it. “The PMPML would run more buses in the area that will have no-vehicle zone. The demand for charging nominal fare from commuters in the no-vehicle zone would also be implemented so that many make use of public transport. However, the PMPML will have to face financial loss due to this, so the PMC should take the responsibility of that,” said Rajendra Joshi of PMPML. The PMC should pay every week for the financial loss of PMPML as the public transport is already facing financial crisis and cannot sustain the loss, he added.