Wrong timing of bus route survey likely to bring erroneous results

However,the survey about the frequency and occupancy of buses is sure to bring out erroneous results as it was carried out when hundreds of buses were off roads due to a strike of PMPML contract workers in the second week of September. Even now the routes of the buses have been reworked for the Ganesh festival.

PMPML traffic manager Sunil Gavali said,“Last month,we started a survey to collect data about the frequency of buses and the number of buses on a particular route. We have also roped in ITDP for the purpose. Once the data is collected and analysed,we will plan and start arranging the available buses.”

An office-bearer of ITDP said,“The first phase was about the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and based on the e-ticketing system. The second one,carried out on September 13,was to understand the frequency and occupancy of buses. The first one was carried out in Pune,while the other one in Pimpri.” The last leg of the survey will be carried out in the first week of October,which will focus on the number of passengers who have to change buses to reach a particular destination.

But the second,and perhaps the most important one about the frequency and occupancy of the passengers is likely to be misleading.”The survey was done when hundreds of PMPML contract workers were on a strike. Secondly,owing to Ganesh festival,the routes of a number of buses have been changed. Again,this is sure to provide wrong figures. The survey would have been better during the intevening period of Dussehra and Diwali,” a PMPML official told The Indian Express.