Eighteen PMT routes on the chopping block

PUNE, Jan 29: The Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) has decided to shut down 18 bus routes and depot-wise bus schedules from February 1, as ...

PUNE, Jan 29: The Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) has decided to shut down 18 bus routes and depot-wise bus schedules from February 1, as it cannot sustain the financial losses. Cost-cutting measures apart, the cash strapped undertaking has also taken steps like bringing errant officials to book, carrying out surprise breathalyser tests and repairing buses to ensure fuel efficiency in a 799-strong fleet.

An order was issued today by PMT General Manager Prithviraj Bayas cancelling the uneconomic trips of buses at all six depots which run for a total of 20,000 kms. Bayas told The Indian Express that the revenue earned per km fell short of the target. Thus the PMT had no option but to shut down the routes. The cost per km of the PMT buses running an average of 1.80 lakh kms per day was Rs 15.83 paise while the revenue earned per km was an average Rs 10-12.

Buses running from Pune station to Wajewadi Kendur, Pune station to Alandi, Pune station to Wadegaon, Pune station to Ghorpadi gaon, Pune station to Matchwell, Swargate to Dhayari gaon, Swargate to Katraj, Swargate to Wadgaon Budruk, Market Yard to Sutarwadi, Market Yard to Urawadegaon and Market Yard to Chakan were among those that were closed.

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Depot-wise bus schedules will also be scrapped including bus duty numbers 50/3 Sarasbaug to Sinhagad, 51/5 Sarasbaug to Donje Phata, 113/2 PMC bus stand to Sangvhi, 154/3 Pune station to Vishrantwadi, 168/6 Pune station to Keshavnagar, 72/3 Kothrud Depot to Pune station, 74/4 Deccan Gymkhana to Pune Station and 209/3 Saswad to Alandi among others.Bayas has laid stress on the in-house improvements where buses which consume additional fuel are undergoing repairs. A nine-member committee will also present a report on the proposed rescheduling of timetables and fare structure on February 15.

While the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) has been appointed as the PMT’s consultant, Bayas said that depot managers had been shifted and various officials had been reallocated. The PMT has also effected a change in timings for its officials and the depot managers. Instead of the routine 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. hour schedule, the officials have been directed to wake up earlier and report on duty at 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and later in the day from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on certain week days.

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