PMT all set to increase fare

PUNE, April 26: The Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) is actively considering a fare hike owing to the increased diesel prices and a proposa...

PUNE, April 26: The Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) is actively considering a fare hike owing to the increased diesel prices and a proposal to the effect will be shortly placed at a meeting of party leaders in the Pune Municipal Corporation.

The PMT has also incurred heavy losses with the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Transport (PCMT) plying its buses within the PMC limits. It has left the undertaking with no other option but to propose a fare hike, PMT general manager Prithviraj Bayas told Pune Newsline today.

The PMT has coughed up an additional 42 paise per litre due to the revised diesel rates, incurring a burden of Rs 15-16 lakh per month. The proposed fare hike will not be applicable for the first eight km. However the fare hike will be unavoidable for long distances, Bayas said.

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The PMT requires 60,000 litres of diesel on a daily basis. With the PCMT too plying its buses within PMC limits at three routes, the PMT has incurred a loss of Rs 40-50,000. Moreover the competition from six-seater autorickshaws has also affected the anticipated revenue of Rs 23 lakh daily.

The PMT after surveying the bus routes has revised the existing timetable which will be implemented from May 1. The need for revising the timetable was felt as the PMT often had to deal with traffic congestion at various bus routes. Due to the installation of new traffic signals, the buses took a longer time to reach the destination. Due to the pressure of maintaining the bus timetable and the given deadline, bus drivers resort to speeding.

According to the revised timetable, the time period of waiting for the next bus has increased. More buses will be plied at certain routes. The revised timetable can be changed if commuters do not find it convenient, Bayas assured.