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Other cities buy their quota of buses

PUNE: Many other cities chosen under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) have scored where Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations dithered and lost ground by not procuring all the sanctioned buses.

In Maharashtra, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR)-BEST, MMR-Navi Mumbai, MMR-Mira Bhayandar, Nashik and Nanded have bought all the buses sanctioned. Nagpur has bought 240 of the 300 buses. Only MMR-Kalyan Dombivili has faulted by not buying any of its approved quota of 50 buses.

In Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati, Vijaywada and Vishakapatnam have bought all their buses, while Hyderabad has procured 939 buses of the total 1,000 sanctioned.

Both Bangalore and Mysore in Karnataka have got the sanctioned 1,000 and 150 buses respectively. In Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai have achieved their targets.

Other cities that procured all their buses include Delhi, Agra, Mathura, Dehradun, Ajmer, Haridwar, Chandigarh, Panaji, Shimla, Jammu, Srinagar, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Guwahati.

The procrastination in buying the sanctioned 650 buses by both the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations has been attributed to the initial insistence by the authorities on air-conditioned vehicles, CNG buses as against diesel-run buses, and buses with doors opening on both sides to suit the Bus Rapid Transit System corridors in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

PMPML authorities have further delayed the procurement in the past one year as they debated the selection of the final prototype of buses. The utility's joint managing director Satish Kulkarni said the prototype of the buses to be delivered by a company had not been approved by the Automotive Research Association of India.

The approval came recently and 200 such buses are to be purchased, Kulkarni said. "The delivery of diesel buses is fast as against CNG buses. Since PMPML has chosen CNG buses, the delivery is taking time," he said.

At a review meeting held by the urban development department this March, the second detailed project report submitted by the state government was studied. It was stated that the city had received 150 buses and the remaining buses shall be received by April 2011.

The minutes of the meeting indicate how the bus purchase was delayed in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The approval to buy 650 buses came in February 2009 and in May the PMPML requested a change in the category of buses and fuel. This was approved by the government.

Later, PMPML submitted another proposal stating that the BRTS would need a semi low-floor bus and dual side doors and requested upgradation of fuel standards from Euro III to Euro IV. This was approved in March 2010.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Other-cities-buy-their-quota-of-buses/articleshow/10012346.cms

PMPML delays buying of buses again, makes travel weary

PUNE: Two uncomfortable features of commuting in the city-packed buses and congested roads -- could have been less taxing if all the 650 buses sanctioned under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission in February 2009 had been bought on time.

While the deadlines to buy these buses by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) was deferred many times in the last two and half years, the authorities have now set January 2012 as the date for buying the remaining buses.

The purchase has been delayed for several reasons, including the controversy over buses with doors opening on both sides,

Meanwhile, in the absence of adequate buses, commuters are forced to travel in overcrowded vehicles, which have poor frequency and services. Jugal Rathi, convenor of the PMP Pravasi Sangh, said, "People risk their lives by hanging out of moving, overcrowded buses."

PMPML's joint managing director Satish Kulkarni is confident that the services would improve in the next few months once the fleet goes beyond 1,900.

"There has been a delay, but we are trying to procure the buses before the scheduled delivery time. The PCMC's remaining 75 buses are expected by November while the PMC's buses will come by January," he said.

Under the funding programme, the central government's share is 50%, the state government chips in with 20% while the municipal corporation gives 30%. As of now, only 295 buses have been procured by both civic bodies, not even half the quota required to ensure efficiency.

Of the 650 buses, sanctioned by the Union urban development department, 500 are for Pune city and 150 are for Pimpri-Chinchwad. While the Pune Municipal Corporation has bought 220 buses, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has procured 75 of its sanctioned buses which are part of the PMPML fleet.

The remaining 280 buses for Pune can be expected by January 2012 while the 75 buses for Pimpri-Chinchwad may be delivered by this November.

Passengers travelling by PMPML buses have increased as students have availed of daily and monthly passes. According to Rathi, nearly 11 lakh commuters travel by PMPML buses every day and services must be improved. "Commuters will react if the authorities test their patience," he said.

Sujit Patwardhan, one of the founder members of Parisar, working for sustainable transport in the city, said the city requires adequate buses.

"Every year, the PMPML should have purchased 200 to 250 buses to cater to the increasing population and to replace old buses. There are not enough depots to park the buses and other facilities are lacking. But this should not stop the authorities from procuring buses as commuters are hit by inadequate services," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/PMPML-delays-buying-of-buses-again-makes-travel-weary/articleshow/10012337.cms

'Use modern techniques to maintain cleanliness at station'

PUNE: Central railway manager Kul Bhushan, who made a surprise visit to the Pune railway station on Sunday, inspected the passenger amenities and other facilities at the station. Bhushan directed the authorities to use modern techniques to maintain cleanliness at the station.

He also directed the authorities to make improvements in the parking facilities at the entrance. He visited the circulating area, parcel office, booking office, foot-over bridge, and linen room. Bhushan also conducted a meeting with the officials about making repairs to the station building and creating a new terminus for suburban local trains. He said that the city was an important education hub and more improvements would be carried out at the railway station. The railways have been working continuously to provide safe and comfortable transport facilities to passengers, he said.

Divisional railway manager of Pune Vishal Agarwal additional divisional railway manager A K Gupta were present, among others.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Use-modern-techniques-to-maintain-cleanliness-at-station/articleshow/10046058.cms

Man I remember when Pune was just a little village, wow.

You remember Pune in the 16th century?

i miss Vaishali resturant in Pune

Website on RTO-registered vehicles soon

PUNE: Information about all vehicles registered with various regional transport offices in the state will soon be posted on a website. The National Informatics Centre has begun the work on the project.

City MLC Mohan Joshi said that he has received a written reply from the state minister for transport, Gulabrao Devkar, regarding the project. Online information about the registered vehicles will be made available from the month of January next year, Joshi said. The information about a registered vehicle will include the name of the owner, his address and the details of the type of vehicle, he added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Website-on-RTO-registered-vehicles-soon/articleshow/10150431.cms

PMPML online bus guide off-track (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/PMPML-online-bus-guide-off-track/860543/)

The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has an online bus guide but commuters and city activists say it’s off-track as most route details are not available and it has not been updated for long.

PMPML staff say there have been no updates in the last three months as they had been waiting for new buses, whose procurement has been delayed. New buses would have meant massive route changes. Senior officials claim timetables will be printed in a few days but city activists are skeptical and say “a few days” is the stock reply of the transport utility.

Deepak Pardeshi, spokesperson, PMPML, said, “We were waiting for new buses to be introduced, which would lead to massive changes in routes. So the website was not updated in three months. Now that there seems to be a delay in introduction of new buses, in the last 15 days we have been working on updating the website. The changes will be visible soon.” Commuter complaints include non-availability of starting and ending stations in a large number of routes. On some routes like Route 28-Bharati Vidyapeeth-University of Pune, no evening timings are available on the website, while on some routes like Route 85E, Kothrud Stand-Ahiregao, the only information given is that services start at 6.30am.

PMPML skipped 1,71,864 runs, lost crores in over 3 years (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pmpml-skipped-1-71-864-runs-lost-crores-in-over-3-years/861371/)

A Staggering 1,71,864 runs could not be made by buses buses of PMPML, the city's transport service, in the last three-and-and-half-years reveals an RTI query filed by The Indian Express with the transport body. These were due to 27,000 breakdowns in the same period.

The highest loss was by PMPML's Swargate bus depot, with an astounding loss of as many as 1,31,796 trips since January 2008 when PMPML came into existence. The Katraj bus depot was second with a loss of 22,486 runs. The Nigdi and Market Yard bus depots recorded 7,490 and 7,527 loss of trips. The Nehrunagar bus depot lost 1,786 trips while Bhosari depot lost 779, the RTI reply stated.

Everyday, PMPML runs 1,250 buses and earns around Rs 1 crore from ticket sales. Each bus is supposed to make eight runs in two shifts every day. Officials said 1,250 buses make around 12,000 trips every day. In the RTI reply, PMPML refused to provide the loss in terms of revenue. "If PMPML buses could not make 1,71,864 trips in three-and-a-half year, it means PMPML has lost around Rs 15 crore. This money could have helped PMPML buy at least 40-50 buses," says Prashant Inamdar, convenor of Pedestrians First which has been frequently interacting with PMPML officials to reduce breakdown rates.

Spare parts shortage: PMPML loses Rs 3 crore every month (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/spare-parts-shortage-pmpml-loses-rs-3-crore-every-month/861945/)

With as many as 125 PMPML buses remaining off the roads daily due to non-availability of some spare parts, the transport utility is losing Rs 3 crore every month, revealed an RTI query filed by The Indian Express.

PMPML chief engineer Sunil Burse said every month nearly 3,750 buses will not be used. The PMPML runs 1,250 buses every day, earning around Rs 1 crore daily. Officials said if 3,750 buses run every month, PMPML could earn Rs 3 crore. “In three and half years, PMPML has lost around Rs 100 crore,” said PMP Pravasi Manch convener Jugal Rathi.

PMPML board member Yogesh Behl, who is also Pimpri-Chinchwad Mayor, said the losses revealed by RTI reply were indeed a matter of grave concern. “If so many buses remain off the roads, commuters are bound to suffer. I will discuss the matter with PMPML chairman and managing director and find out steps to streamline the services,” Behl said.

3-member team to decide on PMC bus purchase plan

A Three-member committee of municipal commissioners of Pune and the Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations and chairman and managing director of the PMPML will take a decision on purchasing 100 buses under JNNURM. The team is expected to take a decision whether to purchase buses with doors on both sides or only on the left side.

The decision was taken at the general body meeting of the Pune Municipal Corporation. This was after the PMPML board in the morning left it to the PMC to take the decision about purchase of the 100 buses of the 650 decided earlier. Mayor Mohan Rajpal Singh said in the interest of the Puneites, the PMC has decided to make early purchases of the buses and settle the issue.

read full article (http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/3member-team-to-decide-on-pmc-bus-purchase-plan/865132/)

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/3member-team-to-decide-on-pmc-bus-purchase-plan/865132/

Pune’s crying need for mass transport system

Efforts for the Pune metro project are being made since 2006, but the proposal is yet to be approved by the government. Pune had taken the lead in launching the BRTS (bus rapid transit system) in December 2006, but today, it is the BRTS in Ahmedabad which is in the forefront. Speak Up finds out how lack of proper mode of transport is making the common man suffer

Metro rail project has got the approval of PMC general body, state govt too is on board
A mass transport system like the metro rail project for Pune is a massive infrastructure project that requires huge financial investment and proper planning. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has raised the issue with the state government. The project has got the approval of the PMC general body and there are still certain procedures, which needs to be followed. The state government too has given a principal approval. Once it is ratified by the state, it will go to the Central government.

read full article (http://www.dnaindia.com/speakup/report_punes-crying-need-for-mass-transport-system_1606119)

PUNE: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will construct part of a road at a cost of Rs 38.65 lakh to provide connectivity to the international cricket stadium coming up at Gahunje.The Maharashtra Cricket Association is developing the stadium. The first phase of construction, costing Rs 300 crore, is in progress.

It will have a seating capacity of 55,000. This stadium is located at Gahunje off the Pune-Mumbai expressway. But there is no proper approach road that connects the expressway and the stadium.While the municipal corporation will construct the 800-metre stretch coming in the municipal limits, a final decision is yet to be taken on who would construct the remaining stretch of about 1.5 km. A civic official said that the 1.5 km stretch would be constructed either by the zilla parishad or by the stadium authorities.

Civic officials said that the 800-metre stretch will start from an underpass of the expressway near Kiwale. The road will run parallel to the expressway. Officials said that the proposed road will be 18 m wide.Land acquisition for 300 metre has been completed. PCMC officials are hopeful that land acquisition process for the remaining 500 metre willl be completed soon. Construction of the road will be completed in six months, the officials said.The PCMC will also construct a 12-metre wide road along the railway over bridge (ROB) in Pimpri at a cost of Rs 35.99 lakh.



http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/PCMC-to-construct-road-to-international-stadium/articleshow/10761157.cms

New Delhi: The environment- and commuter-friendly metro rail will soon run in Indian cities having a population of more than 2 million with the government approving the ambitious project, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath announced Thursday.

"We will be looking at the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for metro rails in the cities which have a population of more than 2 million," Kamal Nath said at a press conference here.

The DPRs are prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and submitted to the other states.

"While respective DPRs have been prepared for Pune, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad and Lucknow, the preparation of reports for Indore, Bhopal and Chandigarh is in process," Kamal Nath told reporters.

The minister also said that the ministry is in talks with the Maharashtra government for getting a DPR for metro in Nagpur.

Source (http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?contentId=10450335&programId=1073754912&tabId=13&BV_ID=@@@)

New Delhi: The environment- and commuter-friendly metro rail will soon run in Indian cities having a population of more than 2 million with the government approving the ambitious project, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath announced Thursday.

"We will be looking at the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for metro rails in the cities which have a population of more than 2 million," Kamal Nath said at a press conference here.

The DPRs are prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and submitted to the other states.

"While respective DPRs have been prepared for Pune, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad and Lucknow, the preparation of reports for Indore, Bhopal and Chandigarh is in process," Kamal Nath told reporters.

The minister also said that the ministry is in talks with the Maharashtra government for getting a DPR for metro in Nagpur.

Source (http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?contentId=10450335&programId=1073754912&tabId=13&BV_ID=@@@)

:ohno: When did the population of Ludhiana and Chandigarh cross 2 million people?!!

How about the other 2 million-plus cities in India not mentioned here, such as Surat, Jaipur, Kanpur and Patna?

:ohno: When did the population of Ludhiana and Chandigarh cross 2 million people?!!

How about the other 2 million-plus cities in India not mentioned here, such as Surat, Jaipur, Kanpur and Patna?

Hehe...punjab elections around the corner:-)

Central Railway plans to build elevated bus depot on city station premises on the lines of Thane and Mumbai


The Central Railway (CR) plans a major infrastructural revamp of Pune railway station in lieu of the ever-increasing rail traffic and influx of passengers. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a press conference, CR General Manager (GM) S K Jain said that they plan to build elevated platforms for buses plying from the depot, which will have connecting skywalks and foot over Bridges (F0Bs), on the lines of bus depots in Thane and Andheri (Mumbai).




Welcome project: The Central Railway plans to work in collaboration
with the PMC and the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation to
implement the project. Representation Pic


"We are trying to coordinate with local bodies like the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) for the project," he said. The plan includes ramps for buses to climb and descend from the elevated decks and an auto stand right below. Effectively, the auto stand will come in the place of the Pune station bus depot, which currently has a stand on Maldhakka Road, infamous for traffic snarls.


Jain, who assumed office a fortnight ago, was on an official tour of all major stations under CR's jurisdiction. An important announcement made by Jain was about extending platform No. 6 on the stations to accommodate 32 coach trains.


Plan approved
"The project has already been approved and will be completed by March next year. About 187 trains ply from Pune everyday and the traffic has reached a saturation point. We are logging the daily train movements and other important statistics to mitigate the congestion and augment services," said Jain.


Talking about the revamp plan, Jain said that in other cities like Thane and Mumbai, the CR was coordinating with agencies such as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and completed several RoBs and other infrastructure.


"Such coordination has been lacking in Pune. We are work in close collaboration with these local bodies. The only way to reduce congestion is to go elevated like we did in Thane and Andheri in Mumbai. We are planning to build the bus depot on the parcel depot at the fag end of the first platform," he said.


Jain also added that around 56,000 railway vacancies were also approved to be filled in a recent meeting with Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi," he added.

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/dec/211211-Overburdened-Pune-railway-station-to-get-facelift.htm

PUNE: In an encouraging and inspiring news at the very beginning of the year, the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), always facing criticism for its poor performance, has been conferred two awards by the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU).

The ASRTU aims to bring together all state road transport undertakings on a common platform with the aim of pooling their resources and knowhow for dealing with various problems faced by them and help them improve their performance. The ASRTU has 58 members, who constitute the backbone of mobility for the urban and rural population, across the country.

The two awards the PMPML has received include the award for 'maximum improvement in tyre performance', and for 'maximum improvement in vehicle productivity.'

The award presentation ceremony will be held in New Delhi on January 9.

The transport company's achievement in tyre performance means that the requirement for new tyres per lakh km has reduced from 5.12 to 4.43. Similarly, the PMPML improved the vehicle productivity from 164.55 km per day to 170.92 km per day.

Officials of the PMPML said the announcement of the awards has created an atmosphere of joy among the staff and workers. The awards have come at a time when the transport company is going through a very adverse situation, the officials added.

Just a few weeks back, the PMPML was rapped by the traffic police branch for running badly maintained buses because of which the buses had frequent breakdowns. It had issued a warning to the PMPML that it would take action against the drivers for driving badly-maintained buses. The frequent breakdowns of buses on main roads and on crowded streets create major traffic congestions. In the last one-and-half months, nearly 51 buses had breakdown at crowded junctions, thus causing major traffic jams in the city, the traffic police had said. Traffic officials had said that in most cases, the wheels are jammed. The buses are so heavy that it requires a crane to lift it away from the crowded roads. Traffic movement is thus affected for hours.

In response to frequent breakdown of buses, chief engineer of the transport company, Sunil Burse had said that the buses have to run on first and second gear, which cause problems in the engine and that there are chances of failures.

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/PMPML-wins-prizes-for-performance/articleshow/11346548.cms)

On following new routes buses are required:
1. Nigdi-Dapodi-Khadki Bazar-Yerwada-Vadgaon Sheri.
2.Katraj-Suncity-Chandni Chowk-Hinjewadi.

Pune's public transportation sucks.

Pune: Mumbai might be ahead of Pune in terms of human population, but when it comes to vehicle population, the city easily overtakes the maximum city.

According to data collected by the Pune traffic police, while Mumbai has around 21 lakh vehicles, Pune has reached the 23 lakh mark. And, if the number of vehicles in Pimpri-Chinchwad are added, the number goes over 31 lakh.

Poor public transport system is a major reason due to which people in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are forced to use private vehicles.

It is because of this that the number of private vehicles are increasing and the number of accidents are also on the rise.

Interestingly, Mumbai has a population of around 1.25 crore while, Pune, including Pimpri-Chinchwad, has a population of around 55 lakh.

Deputy commissioner of police (traffic), Vishwas Pandhare, said, “Nearly 775 new vehicles are registered in Pune RTO in a day which adds to the traffic in the city.”

“In Mumbai, nearly 80 per cent of the private vehicles are cars but in Pune, two-wheelers outnumber the four-wheelers and the bikers are the main victims in road accidents. Looking at the fatalities of last year, on an average one person dies in road accident every day in Pune,” Pandhare said.

As far as the public transport system is concerned, the statistics show the difference between the transport system in Pune and Mumbai.

While Mumbai has around 4,680 buses along with a network of local trains spread across the state capital, Pune has only 1,500-1,600 buses for the whole population of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

To add to the commuters’ agony, nearly 300-350 buses of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) remain off the roads due to bad condition.

Pandhare said, “Strengthening of public transport system in Pune is the need of the hour. However, the present service of the PMPML is not up to the expectations of the public. That’s why they don’t want to travel by buses. Municipal authorities should also work to strengthen the city’s public transport system and introduce metro rail service too.”

http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MAH-PUN-pune-overtakes-maximum-city-in-vehicle-population-3017781.html

Two lakh more vehicles, RTO

The Regional Transport Office (RTO) earned a revenue of Rs 851 crore in fiscal 2011-’12 as against the target of Rs 924 crore. This is an increase of Rs 185 crore compared to last year, when the figure had stood at Rs 666.66 crore. This year, an additional 1.60 lakh two-wheelers and over 43,000 four wheelers were added to city roads. Till March 31, 2011, Pune had a total of 20,91,008 vehicles.

By way of fines, Rs 5.83 crore was raised and another Rs 9.74 crore came through taxes. The Pune region of the RTO includes Pune, Pimpri-Chichwad, Solapur, Akluj and Baramati. The figures are for the period April 1, 2011-March 31, 2012.

Deputy RTO SP Dhaigude, said, “For Pune city, we have achieved 89 per cent of the target set for the financial year. The set target was Rs 497 crore and we have collected Rs 440 crore. In Pimpri-Chinchwad, we achieved 92 per cent, with a total collection of Rs 261 crore. Such high revenue figures were mainly generated due to the increase in the number of vehicle registration and large sums collected in penalties.”

In the past 10 days, 7,500 new vehicles were registered with RTO, Pune, leading to a revenue of Rs 30 crore. Senior RTO officials said 700-800 vehicles had been registered with the transport body daily since Gudi Padwa day.

source: IE (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/two-lakh-more-vehicles-rto/931382/)

Where is the road space?
Where is Metro rail, better public transport? :bash:

Over 2 million vehicles! (not to mention those not registered in Pune).
That's like 1 vehicle for every 2 persons!

Two lakh more vehicles, RTO

source: IE (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/two-lakh-more-vehicles-rto/931382/)

Where is the road space?
Where is Metro rail, better public transport? :bash:

Over 2 million vehicles! (not to mention those not registered in Pune).
That's like 1 vehicle for every 2 persons!
If you see the previous article pune + PCMC =31 Lakh vehicles. We need Metro Badly

According to the recent Economic Survey of Maharashtra, the average number of commuters travelling by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) buses increased by 64,000 between 2009-2010 and 2010-11. PMPML officials confirmed that the number of commuters has been rising every year since the time PMT and PCMT services were merged about five years ago.
As per the survey, 11.72 lakh passengers travelled by PMPML buses every day in 2009-2010. The figure rose to 12.36 lakh in 2010-2011. However, the report claims that there has been no corresponding increase in the number of PMPML buses that ply in Pune city and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas on 327 routes. In fact, from an average of 1,236 buses on roads every day in 2009-2010, the figure came down to 1,235 in in 2010-2011.

However, PMPML officials disagree. PMPML spokesperson Deepak Pardeshi said PMPML runs a fleet of nearly 1,600 buses every day. “Over 1,250 buses belong to PMPML while rest are on contract,” he said.

Satish Kulkarni, joint managing director of PMPML, said at any given point of time, around 15 per cent buses are under maintenance. “Till now we have been trying to meet the requirement with hired buses. The shortage is felt during the peak hours and the bus frequency is affected. However, we are soon going to decide on increasing our fleet,” said Kulkarni.

Pardeshi said when PMT and PCMT were merged, eight lakh commuters travelled by PMPML. “In five years, over three lakh commuters have been added,” he said. This, he said, was due to an increase in the number of buses. “When both of them merged, there were 1,000 buses,” he added. “Every year, there is a four per cent natural increase in the number of commuters. Sometimes, it is more.”

Civic activist Prashant Inamdar said the increase in the number of commuters is due to improved connectivity. “Earlier, PCMT buses plied only up to Pune railway station. They were not allowed near PMC headquarters. Now, there is one bus every four to five minutes to PMC headquarters from Pimpri-Chinchwad,” he said. However, he said, there is still a long way to go before PMPML offers complete connectivity and better travel to commuters across the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Sunil Burse, chief engineer, PMPML said, “Around 225 new buses will be launched in next three months. However, almost the same number of buses will be scrapped.”

Jugal Rathi of the PMP Pravasi Manch said while there is no denying that more buses are required, with planning and optimum utilsation of available resources, the same number of passengers can be managed. “At present, they don’t have enough drivers, so even if they introduce more buses, who is going to drive them? Over 100 buses are lying in the depot for want of drivers. Secondly, there is a requirement for more bus depots,” he said, adding, for every 100 buses, one depot is needed. At present, there are 10; five more should be there, he said.

Rathi added that since the buses are not parked at depots, it leads to unwanted damage that results in extra expenditure on maintenance.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/despite-odds-number-of-commuters-rises/934369/

Doesnt surprise, but the buses are absolutely overcrowded and still PMPML is in losses!

PUNE: The fact that the use of personal motor vehicles like cars and twowheelers have increased over the last 10 years in Pune district is nothing new. What is new though is that the district now has the highest number of households in the state using their own vehicles for commuting.

Over the last 10 years, since 2001, Pune district has surpassed even Mumbai (Mumbai central and Mumbai suburban districts) when it comes to the number of households using cars or similar vehicles like jeeps or vans for commuting. These facts are revealed in the Housing Census Data released recently by the Directorate of Census Operations of Maharashtra.

Of the 35 districts in the state, Pune has 13.2% households using cars as a mode of commuting, Mumbai suburban district comes second with 12.8% and the central district of Mumbai comes third with 12.6%.

However, in 2001, central Mumbai district and Mumbai suburban district were ahead of Pune. The number of households in Pune using cars was 6.5%, which has now more than doubled. Mumbai central district had 9.4% households using cars and Mumbai suburban district had 7.6%. Although the number of households using cars in Mumbai has also increased over the period, it has not moved ahead of Pune district.

Overall state figures show that in Maharashtra, the number of households using cars has increased from 3.4% to 5.9% in the last 10 years. The districts which have low number of households using this mode of transport include Gadhchiroli (1.3%), Washim (1.4%), Hingoli (1.7%), Buldhana (1.8%) and Nandurbar, Bhandara , Yavatmal, Nanded and Parbhani (all 1.95%).

Meanwhile, there has been a similar growth in the number of households using two-wheelers (motorcycles , scooters and mopeds). As per the census data, Pune district has the highest number of households (48.8%) in the state using two-wheelers . However, use of two-wheelers is not so high in Mumbai central and Mumbai suburban districts. In fact, after Pune, comes Ahmednagar district which has 35.5% households using two-wheelers . The districts which have very low percentages of households using two-wheelers include Gadhchiroli (12.1%) and Nandurbar (12.3%). 16.6% households in Mumbai central district and 15.3% households in Mumbai suburban district use two-wheelers .

Commenting on the census data, Harshad Abhyankar of the Save Pune Traffic Movement, an organisation working for sustainable and safe transport facilities, said, "It is obvious that the increased use of two-wheelers and cars is only because of the poor public transport facilities . The situation worsens as one moves into the interior areas of the district. The network, reach and frequency of state transport buses are not good enough to cater to the transport needs of the citizens there."

In Mumbai, on the other hand, public transport facilities such as the suburban railway system, bus transport and other facilities are among the best that the country has, Abhyankar said. "This is the reason why the growth in use of cars and two-wheelers is not much in Mumbai ."

A report of the Central Institute of Road Transport for improvement in public transport in the city also said that an efficient, reliable, regular and affordable bus transport service is essential for Pune. This, the report said, would reduce the use of personal vehicles. The Pune traffic police have also been insisting that public transport in the city should be improved so that people do not use their personal vehicles as frequently.

Meanwhile, figures about vehicle registrations released recently by the Regional Transport Office in Pune said that over two lakh vehicles were registered in 2011-12 . Officials said that it is for the first time that the number has crossed the two-lakh mark in one year. The total number of vehicles registered in Pune city has, so far, reached 23.13 lakh. About 74% (17.07 lakh) vehicles in the city are two-wheelers and 14% (3.33 lakh) are cars.

RTO officials said that the annual vehicle registration has seen an upward trend over the last four years. In 2008-09 , about 1.23 lakh vehicles were registered, the figure increased to 1.45 lakh in 2009-10 and to 1.86 lakh new vehicles in 2010-11 . The RTO registers as many as 20 types of vehicles every year.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Pune-tops-in-use-of-own-vehicles/articleshow/12683590.cms

Civic body unfolds four BRTS corridors


Already struggling to ensure effective implementation of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) on the pilot route, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has now decided to start work on the four corridors — 73 km of dedicated routes connecting the four corners of the city.
Officials of Infrastructure Leasing and Finance Services Ltd and Integrated Road Development Project along with the civic administration made a presentation to the leaders of political parties in the city on Monday. The four routes include Warje-Kharadi via J M Road, Paud Phata-Vishrantwadi via Ganeshkhind Road, Dhayari-Hadapsar and Katraj-Kalewadi.

“We have decided to give in-principle approval to start the work on four BRTS routes. Political leaders have given some suggestions to the civic administration to ensure effective and hassle-free implementation,” said Subhash Jagtap, Leader of the House in PMC.

Congress leader Arvind Shinde said his party will study the routes before taking a stand on implementation.

In its presentation, the civic administration said they would begin the ground work for BRTS in the next two months and work on implementing the system will begin later on. There will be no dedicated route on flyovers.

The civic administration has set priorities for implementing the BRTS. It will first remove the existing punctures — gaps on dividers for pedestrians. However, other provisions, like overhead bridges or underways, will be made for pedestrians to cross roads.

Secondly, the administration will coordinate with traffic police to undertake traffic control measure on the route and ensure smooth flow of traffic. The administration would simultaneously urge PMPML to rationalise the routes for citizens’ convenience.

“We will remove all hurdles for effective implementation of BRTS. The buses will start running on dedicated routes only after the work is complete,” said civic officials.

A recent study had shown that implementation of BRTS would help reduce the number of accidents on these routes and increased frequency of buses would decrease the number of vehicles on the roads.

The PMC undertook the BRTS project five years ago. The pilot route from Katraj to Hadapsar was opposed by citizens and political parties. However, the administration continued with its implementation.

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/civic-body-unfolds-four-brts-corridors/946621/0

^^ All I can say is that dedicated lanes are useless as there is a traffic signal every half a kilometre. This is not going to reduce the journey time of the buses and is just going to lead to massive traffic jams. These babus just do copy and paste from somewhere else without analysing the actual situation on the ground.



The four routes include Warje-Kharadi via J M Road, Paud Phata-Vishrantwadi via Ganeshkhind Road, Dhayari-Hadapsar and Katraj-Kalewadi.
Dedicated lanes are madness I say, utter madness! :ohno:

However, other provisions, like overhead bridges or underways, will be made for pedestrians to cross roads.
where the hell in the city has this actually worked? Putting barriers is just going to make matters worse. Making old people and children climb stairs. :bash: Put up more traffic signals I say.


A recent study had shown that implementation of BRTS would help reduce the number of accidents on these routes and increased frequency of buses would decrease the number of vehicles on the roads.
Would like to actually see that report. Care to make it public?

The pilot route from Katraj to Hadapsar was opposed by citizens and political parties.
It was opposed for a reason and it has been proven so, look at the mess and the roads there are absolutely wide. Common people have more common sense! :bash:

Now,UDD to focus on traffic,transport woes

Pune: After cracking the whip on the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to clear encroachments on footpaths,the state urban development department (UDD) has now taken up the task to resolve Punes traffic and transportation issues.
The UDD will hold a meeting with elected representatives and PMC officials on Thursday to discuss traffic plans,pending projects,the comprehensive mobility plan and construction of a high capacity mass transit route.
Sources in the department said that top UDD officials will attend the meeting.The meeting comes on the backdrop of the state governments recent initiative to push a ring road plan for the city.
Giving a new lease of life to a long-pending proposal,the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) recently proposed a 161.73-km ring road around Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad,which will divert heavy traffic to the outskirts of the two cities.The project is estimated to cost Rs 10,408 crore.
The state is also likely to approve the first phase of the metro rail project this week.On this backdrop,the state would like to take a comprehensive review of the traffic and transport in the city.Besides,the central UDD has published a draft report on transportation.All these issues will be discussed at the meeting, said a PMC official.
The central UDD,in its draft report on making cities more livable by providing good public transport and facilities for pedestrians and cyclists,said recently that major cities facing traffic and transportation problems should have an implementable mobility plan that focuses on people instead of vehicles.
The report mentioned the parameters for the national mission on sustainable habitat and said that every city needs to have an urban metropolitan transport authority (UMTA).This authority should prepare the implementable mobility plan,which should be part of the master plan prepared by the development authority,ie,the municipal corporation.
Pune does not have a UMTA or an implementable mobility plan.The PMC has prepared a comprehensive mobility plan,but has not taken any decision on its implementation in the last two years.A senior civic official said that the report has been placed before the civic general body.

http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=2&edlabel=TOIPU&mydateHid=13-05-2012&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00202&format=&publabel=TOI

First time since its formation, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd to restructure routes


The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) has decided to restructure all the 330 bus routes in the city for better management of the public transport service.

"The bus routes were designed a long time ago when there were two different public transport entities - the Pune Municipal Transport and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Transport. There has been no restructuring of the routes since the formation of the PMPML. Hence, the move," said Prashant Jagtap, director, PMPML, while speaking to TOI.

Jagtap said the intention behind the re-organisation is to increase the frequency of buses to different parts of the city and to reduce unnecessary trips. "More than 10 years have passed since the last re-organisation. Many routes or trips were introduced just because coprorators insisted. This had led to dis-organisation in many routes, which will now be reduced," he said.

Jagtap said the restructuring exercise is also aimed at providing connecting buses to other parts of the city, not necessarily to major bus depots. The existing route plan lacks good connectivity from one destination to another. "We have planned that trips of buses going on shorter routes will be connected to buses going on longer routes. This will help commuters get connecting buses," he said.

Asked when the process of re-organisation will start and how the commuters will be informed about the changes, Jagtap said awareness about the changes will be spread onboard the buses as well as through other means. "The bus drivers and conductors will be informed about the new routes and they will communicate the changes to commuters. Pamphlets will be distributed and posters will be put up on bus stands," he said.

"The Central Institute of Road Transport is working with PMPML on this exercise. The route rationalisation plan was approved in a meeting recently. The actual work of restructuring will start soon. The implementation and awareness about the new routes will start in a month's time," he added.

Civic activists in the city have welcomed the route rationalisation plan, but said that it should be done cautiously. If the changes are done in a hurry, people will not be able to understand them. A lot of people have a set routine, which may be disturbed if changes are not done properly," said Vivek Velankar, founder of NGO Sajag Nagrik Manch.

Juagal Rathi, founder of the PMPML Pravasi Manch, said a proper study is required before changing the routes. "A number of organisations are studying route rationalization. The PMPML should study and compare the reports of these organisations before taking a final call on the changes," he said. "The PMPML should spell out the terms of reference and objectives to all organisations involved in the exercise."

A five-city survey, conducted by a city-based organisation working for sustainable transport, has revealed that the public transport service in the city fell woefully short of citizens' expectations in comparison to bus services in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore. The study was based on parameters such as quality of service, operational efficiency and finances.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/First-time-since-its-formation-Pune-Mahanagar-Parivahan-Mahamandal-Ltd-to-restructure-routes/articleshow/13126727.cms)

Comprehensive mobility plan okayed


The general body (GB) of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Friday approved the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), and has also agreed to incorporate it in the Development Plan (DP) of the city. The CMP, which deals with overall development of the public transport system in the city, was passed by the civic standing committee in June 2008 and was expected to be implemented by the end of 2008. The proposal was prepared by the Infrastructure Leasing and Finance Services.

"It is already late, but now we assure that the CMP will be incorporated in the DP of the city. This will help to take comprehensive decisions. Transport projects motioned in the CMP will be kept in kind while finalising the DP," said leader of the house Subhas Jagtap.

The CMP proposes various traffic and transportation projects costing Rs 22,700 crore. The CMP also covers ring road development, BRTS, monorail, PMPML and development of other link.

BJP corporator Vikas Mathkari said the PMC now should not take ad hoc decisions and stick to the CMP while approving the new projects.

The CMP will now become the premise for the every decision taken by the PMC when it comes to traffic and transport projects.

Highlights

* CMP seeks to "move people, not vehicles''

* Sixty per cent of the total investment is for public/mass transport systems

* In the first phase, focus should be on traffic management measures

* Augmenting BRT, public transport must in first phase

About Road Safety

Make all traffic signs retro-reflective

Have traffic markings on all roads

Ensure adequate street lighting on roads

Implement traffic management measures near railway stations and the Swargate area

Carry out junction improvements for road safety

Non-Motorised Transport

Footpaths to promote walking for short trips

They should be at least 1.5m wide

Design must discourage two-wheelers from using them

Pedestrian zebra-crossings must be clearly marked near traffic signals

Footpaths at busy intersections should have handrails

Parking Management Plan

Strategic parking plazas required

Parking plaza must discourage commercial use

It should facilitate public transport/ NMT

Parking plazas should improve traffic circulation

Consider implementing congestion charges.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Comprehensive-mobility-plan-okayed/articleshow/13284283.cms

PMPML to get 500 more buses

पीएमपीच्या ताफ्यात येणार आणखी पाचशे बस

पुणे - पीएमपीला आणखी पाचशे बस घेण्यासाठी पुणे आणि पिंपरी-चिंचवड या दोन्ही महापालिकांनी आर्थिक मदत करावी, अशी सूचना उपमुख्यमंत्री आणि पालकमंत्री अजित पवार यांनी केली आहे. या बसखरेदीसाठी साधारण दीडशे कोटी रुपये खर्च अपेक्षित आहे.

महापालिका निवडणुकीत राष्ट्रवादी कॉंग्रेसने जाहीरनाम्यात पाचशे नवीन बस पीएमपीच्या ताफ्यात दाखल करण्याचे आश्*वासन दिले होते. निवडणुकीनंतरही पालकमंत्री पवार यांनी वर्षभरात बसखरेदी केली जाईल, असा पुनरुच्चार केला होता. शुक्रवारी पीएमपीचे संचालक प्रशांत जगताप, पुणे महापालिकेच्या स्थायी समितीचे अध्यक्ष बाबूराव चांदेरे, सभागृहनेते सुभाष जगताप, पिंपरी-चिंचवडच्या सभागृहनेत्या मंगला कदम यांनी या संदर्भात पालकमंत्री पवार यांची भेट घेतली. पुणे महापालिकेने तीनशे आणि पिंपरी-चिंचवड महापालिकेने दोनशे बस खरेदी करण्यासाठी आर्थिक मदत करावी, अशी सूचना पालकमंत्री पवार यांनी केली. त्याला दोन्ही महापालिकेच्या पदाधिकाऱ्यांनी मान्यता दिली आहे. त्यामुळे बसखरेदीची प्रक्रिया लवकर होण्याची चिन्हे दिसू लागली आहेत.

जगताप म्हणाले, ""तीनशे बस खरेदी करण्यासाठी पुणे महापालिकेकडून नव्वद कोटी रुपये, तर दोनशे बस खरेदीसाठी पिंपरी-चिंचवड महापालिकेकडून साठ कोटी रुपये घ्यावे लागतील. महापालिकांचे अंदाजपत्रक मंजूर झाले असले तरी वर्गीकरणातून हा निधी उपलब्ध होऊ शकतो. निधी उपलब्ध होण्यास कोणतीही अडचण नाही.'' शहराच्या लोकसंख्येच्या प्रमाणात पीएमपीकडे साडेतीन हजार बस आवश्*यक आहेत. पण पीएमपी आणि भाडेतत्त्वावरील बसची संख्या सोळाशेच्या आसपास आहे. जेएनयूआरएम योजनेअंतर्गत 201 बस खरेदी करण्यास संचालक मंडळाने नुकतीच मान्यता दिली आहे. या बस रस्त्यावर येण्यास आणखी काही महिन्यांचा कालावधी लागणार आहे. आणखी पाचशे बस खरेदीची प्रक्रिया वेगात झाली तर या वर्षभरात पीएमपीचा बसताफा वाढण्यास मदत होईल.

http://online2.esakal.com/esakal/20120519/5568244760889268499.htm

Summary
PMPML to get 500 more buses costing 150 crores, with the Deputy CM asking and the PMC and PCMC agreeing to provide funding for the buses, with PMC funding 300 buses (90 crores) and PCMC 200 buses (60 crores).
Pune needs 3500 buses for the size of its population, but currently only has 1600 buses. 201 buses under JNNURM have also recently been approved.

Learn from Delhi, no dedicated lanes in BRTS please!


not from Pune, but Delhi

Acting CJ points to interim trial report which says traffic moved freely once dedicated lanes were done away with

The 5.8-km long Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand may not remain a stretch with dedicated lanes once Delhi High Court passes its final order.

On Wednesday, Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri said the court will not allow Delhi government to go back to the original system of having dedicated lanes divided by barriers.

“We are making one thing very clear that we will not let you (Transport department) go back to square one. We will not let you have the traffic system at the BRT as it has always been,” Justice Sikri said. He had earlier ordered a comprehensive study of the BRT to ascertain its feasibility in the current traffic scenario.

He said the interim report of the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), carrying out the court-mandated study of the BRT, clearly pointed that the traffic situation improved when dedicated lanes were done away with and vehicles were allowed to move freely.

“The interim report points out that the situation was better during the trial run. We would always want it to be better than what it is,” he said.

The court passed these significant remarks as it heard an application by B B Sharan, representing petitioner NGO Nyayabhoomi, who sought a directive to the Delhi Transport department to let CRRI continue with the lane-free traffic on the BRT till the court passed final orders.

Justice Sikri disposed of this application while giving liberty to the CRRI to do what was required for a comprehensive study.

The court said the CRRI could also revert to its traffic plan during the trial run between May 12 and May 22 when the mixed-traffic flow was allowed in the corridor.

Minutes after the order was passed, Zubeda Begum, counsel for the Transport department, sought a clarification from the court, informing the bench that there was no question of the CRRI reverting the traffic to lane-free system since the study was over and the CRRI only required to submit a final report in the matter now.

At this, Justice Sikri told the counsel that if this submission meant reverting the BRT to the original lane system, they were not going to allow it. The court will now take up the matter on July 18, awaiting the final report from the CRRI.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/wont-let-brt-traffic-system-be-the-same-hc-tells-govt/955924/2

reading this thread begs the same question.
why cant indians plan for the future.?
why is it that only when things get to crisis point do they get addressed?
V odd

Opinion piece regarding the mess that the PMPML is in, in particular the absolute pathetic conditions at the PMPML bus station near the railway station and the apathy displayed by the PMC towards the PMPML

(Sorry, it's in Marathi, too long to translate but it discusses the situation at the PMPML bus station near the railway station and how instead of creating more facilities for the passengers part of it is being converted illegally by the PMC into a night shelter)


आधी बीआरटी, आता मेट्रो... पीएमपीला कोण सावरणार ?

मेट्रो'चे स्वप्न लवकरच साकार होईल, अशी आशा सध्या पुणेकरांना दाखविली जात आहे. मेट्रो जमिनीवरून धावावी की भुयारी मार्गावरून, यावरून महापालिका निवडणुकीच्या प्रचारात हमरीतुमरीवर येऊन बाजू मांडण्यात येत होती. मुख्यमंत्री मांडत असलेली बाजू मान्य करीत भूमिगत मेट्रो खर्चिक असल्याचे स्पष्टीकरण उपमुख्यमंत्र्यांनी आता दिले आहे. पाच वर्षांपूर्वी झालेल्या निवडणुकीच्या वेळी बीआरटी योजनेवरून प्रचार रंगला होता. पुण्याच्या वाहतूक प्रश्*नाचे गांभीर्य सर्वांनाच आहे; त्यावर भविष्यात काय करणार, याची भरघोस आश्*वासनेही गल्लीपासून दिल्लीपर्यंतचे नेते देतात. सार्वजनिक वाहतूक सक्षम केली पाहिजे, हे सर्वच नेते ठामपणे सांगतात. मात्र, त्यासाठी सध्या पुण्यात एकमेव सार्वजनिक वाहतूक व्यवस्था पुरविणाऱ्या "पीएमपीएमएल'ला बळकट करण्याचे फारसे प्रयत्न केले जात नाहीत; त्यामुळे पुण्यातील सार्वजनिक वाहतूक व्यवस्था दिवसेंदिवस विकलांग होत चालली आहे.

रेल्वेस्थानकासमोरील मोलेदिना हॉल येथे बांधलेल्या वाहनतळाच्या तळमजल्यावरील जागेत "नाइट शेल्टर' उभारण्याचा वाद चर्चेत आहे. मुळात या जागेवर पीएमपी बसस्थानक, शाळा, टपाल कार्यालय होते. तेथे 15 कोटी रुपये खर्चून वाहनतळ उभारताना पीएमपीला जागा देण्यास महापालिकेचे अधिकारी अनुकूल नव्हते. शाळेचे स्थलांतर पीएमपीच्या इमारतीत केल्यानंतर वाहनतळाच्या तळमजल्यावर दोन हजार चौरस फूट आणि पहिल्या मजल्यावरील पाचशे चौरस फूट जागा पीएमपीला देण्याचे तत्कालीन आयुक्तांनी 2006 मध्ये मान्य केले; त्यानंतर तेथे वाहनतळ बांधण्यास सुरवात झाली.

तळमजल्याचे बांधकाम झाल्यावर पीएमपी प्रशासनाला तेथून बसगाड्या सुरू करण्यास सांगण्यात आले. अपुऱ्या सुविधेचे कारण सांगून पीएमपीने कार्यवाहीस नकार दिला. बसस्थानकावर पुरेशा सोयी देण्याची मागणी त्यांनी केली. तेव्हा, "तुम्हाला कोणतीही जागा अद्याप दिलेली नाही. त्यासाठी आयुक्तांची मान्यता घ्यावी लागेल. बसथांबे व अन्य कामे पीएमपीनेच करावीत. ससून आणि अन्य ठिकाणचे थांबे याच स्थानकातून सुरू करावेत; त्यामुळे तेथील वाहतूक सुरळीत होईल,' असे महापालिकेने तीन वर्षांपूर्वी कळविले.

सध्या या बसस्थानकातून पीएमपी गाड्यांच्या रोज दोन हजार फेऱ्या होतात. सव्वा लाख प्रवाशांची ये-जा सुरू आहे. ही जागा अपुरी पडत असल्याने आजूबाजूच्या रस्त्यांवरील थांब्यांवरून सुमारे शंभर गाड्या धावतात. त्यातून लाखभर प्रवाशांची वाहतूक होते. या दोन-अडीच लाख प्रवाशांसाठी ना पुरेशी बसण्याची व्यवस्था आहे, ना स्वच्छतागृहांची सोय. त्यातच पीएमपीसाठीच्या जागेत "नाइट शेल्टर' उभारण्याचा प्रस्ताव आल्यामुळे भविष्यकाळातही या प्रवाशांना सोयीपासून वंचित राहावे लागण्याची शक्*यता नाकारता येत नाही.

महापालिका प्रशासनाने स्थायी समितीपुढे प्रस्ताव मांडण्यापूर्वीच "शेल्टर'चे कामही सुरू केले. विनापरवाना सुरू केलेल्या या कामाविषयी त्यांना जाब विचारण्याचीही कोणाची तयारी नाही, ही जास्त चिंताजनक बाब आहे. परगावाहून, परराज्यातून येणाऱ्या गरिबांसाठी "नाइट शेल्टर' उभारावयाची असल्यास शहरात अन्यत्र उभारावीत. पीएमपीच्या जागेवर अतिक्रमण करण्याचा अधिकार महापालिकेला कोणी दिला? तांत्रिकदृष्ट्या ती जागा महापालिकेच्या मालकीची असेलही. पण, ती पीएमपीला देण्याचे आयुक्तांनी आणि महापालिकेच्या सभागृहाने पूर्वी मान्य केले आहे. ते परस्पर बदलण्याचा निर्णय प्रशासनाने कसा घेतला? महापालिकेतील नवनिर्वाचित नगरसेवकांना ते मान्य आहे का, की आयुक्त व गटनेते निर्णय घेतील, असे म्हणून ते शांत राहणार आहेत?

शहरासाठी काही वर्षे रखडलेला सर्वंकष वाहतूक आराखडा या नगरसेवकांनी काहीही चर्चा न करता एकमताने गेल्याच महिन्यात मान्य केला. त्याची अंमलबजावणी कोण करणार? "बीआरटी'साठी केंद्र सरकारने सातशे कोटी रुपये दिले. गेल्या पाच वर्षांत त्याचा वापर करून शहरातील अनेक रस्त्यांची कामे करण्यात आली. बीआरटी बससाठी मार्ग देण्यास मात्र विरोध होतो आहे. रस्ता रुंदीकरण आणि बीआरटीचे कार्यालय, यामुळे स्वारगेटच्या जेधे चौकात रस्त्यावरच पीएमपी गाड्या थांबतात. त्यांच्या रोज सहा हजार फेऱ्या तेथून होतात. स्वारगेट, रेल्वेस्थानक परिसरातील वाहतुकीच्या कोंडीची समस्या महापालिकेच्या धोरणांमुळे अधिक गंभीर झाली आहे; कारण शहरातील शनिपार, नागनाथपार, भिकारदास मारुती मंदिर, पूरम चौक येथील बसथांब्यांवरील बहुतेक वाहतूक स्वारगेट बसस्थानकावर स्थलांतरित झाली आहे. तीच स्थिती रेल्वेस्थानक परिसराची आहे. तेथेही जिल्हाधिकारी कार्यालयाजवळ रोज शेकडो प्रवासी बसच्या प्रतीक्षेत उभे असल्याचे जाणवते.

शहरातील सार्वजनिक वाहतुकीची जबाबदारी महापालिकेचीच आहे. मात्र, पूर्वीपासूनच नगरसेवकांनी पीएमपीला गाड्या खरेदीसाठी, अन्य कामासाठी निधी देताना दुजाभाव दाखविल्याचे दिसते; त्यामुळे पीएमपी डबघाईला आली. पीएमपीसाठी दर वर्षी नवीन पाचशे गाड्या खरेदी करण्याचे आश्*वासन सत्ताधारी पक्षांनी दिले आहे. आताच पीएमपीच्या गाड्या रात्री शहराच्या विविध भागांत रस्त्यांवर उभ्या असतात. नवीन गाड्या कोणत्या रस्त्यांवर उभ्या कराव्यात, त्याचेही मार्गदर्शन महापालिकेने केले पाहिजे.

त्यामुळे पीएमपीसाठी जागा महत्त्वाची आहे. मेट्रो प्रकल्पाच्या पहिल्या टप्प्यासाठी पुणे महापालिकेने अडीचशे कोटी देण्याचे मान्य केले आहे. तो प्रकल्प सुरू होण्यास आणखी आठ-दहा वर्षे लागतील. बीआरटीचे पुढचे टप्पे कसे करणार, हे येत्या दोन-तीन वर्षांत दिसेलच. मात्र, पुण्याला भेडसावणाऱ्या वाहतूक समस्येतून काही प्रमाणात सुटका करण्याचे काम पीएमपी प्रशासन करीत आहे. ती सार्वजनिक वाहतूक व्यवस्था बळकट करण्यासाठी नवनिर्वाचित नगरसेवकांनी पक्षभेद विसरून प्रयत्न केले पाहिजेत.

मोलेदिना हॉल येथील जागा "नाइट शेल्टर'ऐवजी पीएमपीला देताना, त्या जागेचा वापर अधिकारी व कर्मचारी यांच्या केबिन बांधण्याऐवजी प्रवाशांच्या सोयीसाठी करावा, अशा स्वरूपाच्या अटीही घातल्या पाहिजेत. सध्या पीएमपी ही एकच सार्वजनिक वाहतूक व्यवस्था पुण्यात कार्यरत असल्याने ती बळकट करण्याकडे महापालिका प्रशासन व नगरसेवकांनी लक्ष दिले पाहिजे; अन्यथा पुणेकरांच्या अडचणीत भरच राहील.

http://www.esakal.com/esakal/20120610/4835906956458288642.htm

Opinion piece regarding the mess that the PMPML is in, in particular the absolute pathetic conditions at the PMPML bus station near the railway station and the apathy displayed by the PMC towards the PMPML

(Sorry, it's in Marathi, too long to translate but it discusses the situation at the PMPML bus station near the railway station and how instead of creating more facilities for the passengers part of it is being converted illegally by the PMC into a night shelter)


http://www.esakal.com/esakal/20120610/4835906956458288642.htm

Puneites are being told that the dream of a metro coming up in the city will soon materialise. There was heated debate over whether Metro should take the underground route or be elevated in the recent municipal body polls. The Deputy Chief Minister has made it clear that the underground route will be too expensive. Five years ago, there was much debate about the BRTS project. Every politician makes it a point to speak of strengthening the public transport system in the city. However, with very little being done to improve the PMPML's functioning, the ground reality is that the public transport system in Pune is getting worse and worse with every passing .

I shall post the other translated parts soon. Pressed for time a bit now. :lol:

PMPML to build 1,000 bus shelters

The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) has announced that it would soon be building 1,000 bus shelters in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis for which a survey is being conducted.
It may be noted that the PMPML and the two municipal corporations have failed to build bus shelters at stops despite a number of earlier announcements. Bus commuters are forced to stand in the open braving the heat and rains since there are many roads in the city and the neighbouring township that do not have bus shelters.
Ajay Mane, a resident of Pimpri, said, “Even years after its formation, the PMPML has failed to provide shelters at all bus stops.”
Smita Kadam, a resident of Chinchwad, said, “Women, senior citizens and children are the main sufferers due to the lack of shelters at the stops.”
Ramakant Bhokare, chief of the PMPMPL advertising department, said, “The transport body is conducting a survey in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to find the exact number of stops on the various routes that do not have bus shelters. The survey is expected to be completed in a week. We will appoint an agency to prepare the tender documents for awarding the contract of constructing the bus shelters. The transport body wants to complete the project on BOT basis.”
Kailash Raut, a resident of Akurdi, said, “Bus shelters should be big enough and seat at least 10 to 20 passengers. The new bus shelters have good chairs but only four to six people can be accommodated.”
Commuters often complain that there is no common design for bus shelters in both the cities and that over the years, the shelters have shrunk in size and are insufficient for the growing number of passengers.
In response, Bhokare said, “We plan to have a common design for the bus shelters in both the cities. The bus shelters will have a single long bench with a seating capacity of 20 people. We cannot have two long benches as most of the bus shelters are located on footpaths, which need to be kept free for the movement of pedestrians.”
Jugal Rathi, president, PMP Pravasi Manch, said, “The manch has been fighting for the rights of bus passengers since 2007. There are 5,000 bus stops in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. But only 1,200 stops have bus shelters. There are a minimum of 1,000 bus stops in both these cities used by a large number of commuters through the day where there is urgent need of shelters.”


TOI (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIPU/2012/06/19&PageLabel=3&EntityId=Ar00303&ViewMode=HTML)

the thread can be named-

Pune Public Transport (if it exists) :lol: :P

Pune Public transport is a huge joke and apart from the vote banks of rickshaw unions- there is only rickshaw which is the public transport. :P everything else is nothing but something to laugh at :lol:

Transport department announces diversion of buses (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Transport-department-announces-diversion-of-buses/articleshow/14337002.cms)

The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited has announced diversion of buses on the Jangli Maharaj road in the city as the construction of the subway at S G Barve chowk (modern cafe chowk) would begin soon.

The Pune Municipal Corporation will soon be starting the construction work of the subway. The civic body has earlier completed the work of another subway at the Sancheti chowk.

For ensuring smooth vehicular traffic during construction of the subway at S G Barve chowk, the traffic branch has started the implementation of rotary traffic at the junction. Movement of vehicles from Barve chowk towards the historic Shaniwarwada has now been banned. As many PMPML buses earlier used to go by this road, the PMPML management has decided to divert these buses on to the Jangli Maharaj road. The buses will go via Balgandharva chowk, PMC Bhavan, Mangala talkies and proceed towards Shaniwarwada. PMPML officials said that bus commuters will not face any major problems due to this diversion.

Traffic branch officials said that while the construction work is yet to begin, the rotary traffic at S G Barve chowk is being implemented on a trial basis. Traffic officials said that many vehicle users were not aware about the traffic changes on the first day. As a result, there was traffic congestion at some places. Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vishwas Pandhre has appealed citizens to cooperate with the police in the implementation of the traffic changes.

Commuters' group demands bus shelters in Pune (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Commuters-group-demands-bus-shelters-in-Pune/articleshow/14338188.cms)

City bus commuters groups have urged the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations as well as the PMPML to immediately take up the work of bus shelters at all bus-stops.

Jugal Rathi and Vivek Velankar of the PMP Pravasi Sangh said that bus commuters are facing severe hardships due to absence of proper bus shelters at many places. The hardships of the commuters will worsen in the rainy season, Rathi said.

The Pravasi Sangh which is an umbrella group of various bus commuters groups has been very vocal about all problems related to public transport. The sangh has charged that there is total lack of co-ordination between the municipal corporation and PMPML regarding construction of bus shelters. The advertisement department of PMPML makes plans for construction of bus shelters. However, they are never implemented, the sangh said.

Several bus sheds have been removed or damaged. However, PMPML has not undertaken any inquiry about these incidents'', Rathi said. Commuters are already facing severe hardships due to inefficient bus services as well as rotary traffic plans for construction of subways and road widening works. Urgent action is needed by PMPML for construction of bus shelters, he added.

PMPML officials have said that there is a plan for construction of 1000 bus shelters in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. A survey would be undertaken for this, they said.

पीएमपीएमएलमध्ये लवकरच आयएएस अधिकाऱ्याची नियुक्*ती

पुण्यातील सार्वजनिक वाहतूक व्यवस्था सुधारण्यासाठी पीएमपीएमएल संस्थेत तरुण व कार्यक्षम आयएएस अधिकाऱ्याची लवकरच नियुक्ती करण्याचे आश्*वासन मुख्यमंत्री पृथ्वीराज चव्हाण यांनी दिल्याची माहिती कॉंग्रेसचे आमदार मोहन जोशी यांनी रविवारी पत्रकार परिषदेत दिली.

ते म्हणाले, ""पुणेकरांना पीएमपी गाड्यांची सेवा चांगल्या पद्धतीने मिळावी, या उद्देशाने मी गेल्या महिन्यात मिशन पीएमपीएमएल सुरू केले. त्याचा उपयोग होत असून, वर्षभरात पुणेकरांना या योजनेचे चांगले परिणाम दिसून येतील. वाहकाअभावी काही गाड्या रद्द कराव्या लागत असल्यामुळे वाहकांची भरती लवकरच सुरू करण्यात येईल. पीएमपीच्या गाड्या ठेवण्यासाठी व दुरुस्तीसाठी जागा नाही. त्यांना नवीन डेपोंची गरज आहे. मुळा रस्त्यावर दहा एकर जागा, खराडी येथील जागा डेपोसाठी येत्या तीन-चार महिन्यांत मिळणार आहे. सिंहगड रस्त्यावर डेपोला जागा मिळण्यासाठी तेथील उद्योजक सतीश मगर यांच्याशी संपर्क साधला आहे. हिंजवडी येथील आयटी पार्कमध्ये पीएमपीसाठीची आरक्षित जागा मिळविण्यासाठी दोन कोटी रुपये भरावे लागणार आहेत. ती रक्कम माफ करण्याची विनंती उद्योगमंत्री नारायण राणे यांच्याकडे केली आहे. नवीन डेपो बांधण्यासाठी पीएमपीएमएल संस्थेला अडीच चटईक्षेत्र निर्देशांक देण्याची मागणी आम्ही केली आहे.''

'पुण्याच्या वाहतूक समस्येची तीव्रता कमी करण्यासाठी सार्वजनिक वाहतूक व्यवस्था अधिक सक्षम केली पाहिजे. त्यासाठी तरुण व कार्यक्षम अधिकारी नियुक्त करण्याची मागणी आम्ही मुख्यमंत्र्यांकडे केली; त्यांनी ती मान्य केली. पर्यटकांच्या दृष्टीने सोईच्या असलेल्या "पुणे दर्शन' सेवेसाठी तीन नवीन वातानुकूलित गाड्या खरेदी करण्यात येणार आहेत.''

मोलेदिना हॉलसाठी आरक्षित जागा
पुणे रेल्वेस्थानकासमोरील मोलेदिना हॉल बसस्थानकाच्या ठिकाणी पीएमपीएमएलसाठी आरक्षित केलेली सर्व जागा पीएमपीएमएलला देण्याचे महापालिका आयुक्त महेश पाठक यांनी मान्य केले आहे, असे आमदार मोहन जोशी यांनी सांगितले. राज्य सरकारच्या विविध खात्यांकडे असलेली सव्वासहा कोटी रुपयांची थकबाकी वसूल करण्यासाठी निवासी उपजिल्हाधिकारी अनिल पवार यांच्याकडे बैठक झाल्याचे त्यांनी सांगितले.


http://www.esakal.com/esakal/20120709/5646883717294783887.htm

Summary:
IAS officer to be appointed to oversee PMPML. Moledina Hall area to be reserved only for PMPML. New depot(?) coming up at Kharadi, Mula road. Efforts on for new depot at Hinjewadi, Sinhagad road

Buses broke down 1,238 times in May

Here is another confirmation of the pathetic condition of public bus transport in the city. The number of breakdowns of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) buses has shown a steep increase from 979 instances in May 2010 to 1,238 instances in May 2012.

Poor road worthiness and lack of drivers and conductors meant that 361 buses were off-roads in May 2010 which increased to 610 buses in May 2012. Strangely, the number of buses in the PMPML fleet have gone up from 1,580 in May 2010 to 1,777 in May 2012.

A Right to Information application filed by city-based PMP Pravasi Manch revealed this information. It shows a steady increase in the number of the buses on road in the last three years. Compared to 361 buses that were off roads in May 2010, the number increased by 46 in 2011 to reach 407, which further went up by 203 in 2012 to 610.

"The manch had sought the information against the backdrop of the proposed hike in bus fares. The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) officials had made promises of better service, when they had increased the fares in the past. But data available from the PMPML shows that hardly any improvement has taken place in the service. We feel that there should be no fare hike unless and until there is a noticeable improvement in service," said Jugal Rathi, founder of the group, while addressing a news conference here on Thursday.

Rathi said that statistics of PMPML also highlighted the decline in the number of passengers using public transport. Nearly 1.5 lakh people stopped using the service since May 2010, while the number of complaints about the service has gone up from 31 in May 2010 to 522 in May 2012.

Vivek Velankar, another activist of the manch, said they have chosen a parameter of one month's performance, while seeking information.

"We selected May and have taken data of the last three years for the same month. The data was compared to various aspects of PMPML services to see if it had improved or not," he said.

Rathi said that assurances by PMPML like increasing number of buses and passenger load, improving average to cut down diesel consumption, rationalisation of bus routes and reducing administrative expenses have not been fulfilled.

All these factors have brought about a decline in the income of the transport utility. The per bus per day income has gone down from Rs 8,323 in May 2011 to Rs 8,100 in May 2012. The figure was not available for May 2010.

Similarly, the per km revenue has reduced from Rs 35.09 to Rs 34.31, Velankar stated.

Velankar and Rathi have also alleged that the loss suffered by PMPML was increasing because of inefficiency and the administration was trying to hide the fact by proposing a fare hike in a bid to reduce losses.

Meanwhile, in another news conference co-opted corporator of Pune Municipal Corporation ( PMC) Sanjay Balgude demanded that the PMPML be disbanded.

"The company has been showing consistent losses since its formation. It was formed with an intention to provide better public transport and bring financial stability to the public transport undertaking. But the company has failed to achieve both these targets," he said.

Sunil Gavali, traffic manager of PMPML, said that the number of off-road buses will reduce soon.

"The process of recruiting bus drivers and conductors is underway. The recruitment of drivers is almost over, it will be followed by conductors. The number of off-road buses will go down once the recruitment is done," he said.

Deepak Pardeshi, public relations officer of the PMPML, said that the high number of breakdown instances was due to old buses plying. "The process of procuring new buses is on and steps have been taken to ensure better maintenance. The situation will improve soon," he claimed.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Buses-broke-down-1238-times-in-May/articleshow/14857848.cms

Soon, you might have double-decker buses in Pune

If all goes well, then Puneites will once again get to feel the old charm of commuting in double-decker buses. The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) board of directors will be discussing the proposal of the introducing double-decker buses on city roads soon.In this regard, director of the board, Prashant Jagtap will be mooting a proposal before the board of directors in a meeting to be held on September 15.

Interestingly the erstwhile Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) used to run double-decker buses in the city, 15 years ago, but later the buses were taken off the roads.

Speaking to the DNA, Jagtap said, “Pune now has wider roads. Double-decker buses will accommodate more passengers and it can be used for long routes which do not have many turns or traffic congestion. Further it will also attract citizens to use buses.”

Municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak however said, “But for such a proposal, we need to check the cost of the double-decker buses and also consider training the drivers.”

http://www.dnaindia.com/pune/report_soon-you-might-have-double-decker-buses-in-pune_1732168

pune has worst administration of roads n transport

हिंजवडीतील आयटी क्षेत्रातील कर्मचाऱ्यांना घेऊन येणाऱ्या बसगाड्या पीएमपीएलसाठी वापरण्याचा प्रस्ताव हिंजवडी उद्योजकांच्या संघटनेने तयार केला आहे. या जादा बसगाड्या पीएमपीएलला उपलब्ध झाल्यामुळे पुणेकरांच्या वाहतुकीचा प्रश्*न सुटण्यास मदत होणार आहे. हिंजवडी इंडस्ट्रिअल असोसिएशनचे अध्यक्ष मृत्युंजय सिंग व अन्य पदाधिकाऱ्यांनी या प्रस्तावाबाबतची माहिती दिली.

पीएमपीएमएलचे सहव्यवस्थापकीय संचालक प्रवीण आष्टीकर, उपप्रादेशिक परिवहन अधिकारी जितेंद्र पाटील आणि महाराष्ट्र राज्य औद्योगिक विकास महामंडळाचे अधिकारी यांच्यात बुधवारी या प्रस्तावाबाबत प्राथमिक चर्चाही झाली.

हिंजवडी औद्योगिक क्षेत्रातील विविध कंपन्यांमधील कर्मचाऱ्यांची ने-आण करण्यासाठी आठशे बसगाड्यांचा वापर होतो. बहुतेक सर्वच कंपन्यांनी त्या कंत्राटी पद्धतीने भाडेतत्त्वावर घेतल्या आहेत. सकाळी कर्मचाऱ्यांना कामावर सोडल्यानंतर सायंकाळी त्यांना परत सोडेपर्यंत या बसगाड्या विविध कंपन्यांच्या दारातच उभ्या असतात. या मधल्या वेळात या बसगाड्या सार्वजनिक वाहतुकीसाठी वापरता आल्यास पीएमपीएमएलला आणखी सुमारे आठशे गाड्या उपलब्ध होऊ शकतील. त्यामुळे शहरातील सार्वजनिक वाहतुकीवरील ताण काही प्रमाणात कमी होऊ शकेल, असेही त्यांनी स्पष्ट केले.

या योजनेला मूर्त स्वरूप आल्यास औद्योगिक वसाहतीतील गाड्यांचा पुरेपूर वापर होईल. या योजनेचे स्वरूप, त्यातील कायदेशीर बाबी व अंमलबजावणीसंदर्भातील ठोस प्रस्ताव लवकरच सादर करण्यात येणार आहे, असे सिंग यांनी स्पष्ट केले.

हिंजवडी इंडस्ट्रिअल असोसिएशनने पुढाकार घेऊन सादर केलेली ही योजना स्वागतार्ह आहे. जनमानसात सार्वजनिक वाहतूक व्यवस्थेबाबत असलेली आस्था त्यातून दिसते. पुढील महिन्यात प्रायोगिक स्वरूपात या योजनेची अंमलबजावणी करण्याचा विचार असल्याचे आष्टीकर यांनी सांगितले. या प्रयोगानंतरच तिच्या कायमस्वरूपी अंमलबजावणीबाबतचा प्रस्ताव तयार करणे शक्*य होईल, असेही ते म्हणाले.

http://www.esakal.com/esakal/20121109/5622526203503829981.htm

Summary:
Software companies in Hinjewadi have proposed that the PMPML could use their buses for public transport. Over 800 buses are hired by the software companies to transport their employees. These buses could be used for public transport when they lie idle between their operating hours.

http://www.esakal.com/esakal/20121109/5622526203503829981.htm

Summary:
Software companies in Hinjewadi have proposed that the PMPML could use their buses for public transport. Over 800 buses are hired by the software companies to transport their employees. These buses could be used for public transport when they lie idle between their operating hours.

In other cities, local transport bodies rent their buses to Companies. Its other way around in Pune. Hmmm.

In last two yeas transportation in pune has been improved.This is also one of the most important factor in rise in real estate properties in pune (http://www.thecompletepropertystore.com/real-estates-pune/properties-pune).

From 1st Nov, 2012 PMPML has started bus service on "Sangvi to Hinjewadi" route no 321. This bus route is "Old Sangvi-Kate Puram-Pimple Gurav-Jawalkar Nagar-Pimple Saudagar-Shivar Garden-Jagtap Dairy-Kalewadi Phata-Kaspate Wasti-Mankar Chowk-Wakad-Hinjewadi gaon- Phase1-Phase2".
The timings are:
From Sangvi: 7.10,9.10,9.30,9.50,10.10,11.30
From Hinjewadi: 16.30,17.50,18.05,20.30.

The frequency of this service need to be increased. Also there is demand that the bus should be up to Phase3.

There is huge demand for "Katraj to Hinjewadi bus" via bypass. People working in Hinjewadi and staying at Katraj, Balajinagar,Vadgaon Budruk,Dhayri, Narhe, Ambegaon,Warje,Malwadi,Kothrud Depo,Bhusari,Bavdhan, Sus Road will get benefit of this service.

Have to say I've seen the condition of some JNNURM buses and the PMPML has really done a pathetic job in maintaining them. No hope from PMPML. No matter how good the buses delivered to them are, they will make sure they will turn to scrap in some years. Absoutely zero sense of how to maintain bus bodies and the like. I've been seeing a few buses in which the rear windows have been boarded up, making it potentially unsafe in case of accidents. PMPML should be taken to court for putting the lives of passengers in danger! @#&*!

Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd adds new buses to fleet, but keeps them off the roads

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Pune-Mahanagar-Parivahan-Mahamandal-Ltd-adds-new-buses-to-fleet-but-keeps-them-off-the-roads/articleshow/18668283.cms


PUNE: When the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd added new buses to its fleet last year, it would have ideally translated into more routes being added or services on existing ones getting beefed up. However, a recent central government report has shown that PMPML did not optimally utilize its fleet for shortage of drivers and conductors.

The report, prepared by the union ministry of road transport and highways, gives details of the performance of 38 road transport undertakings including that of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (referred to as Pune Mahamandal in the report) and analyses the performance of transport undertakings in the last financial year (2011-12) as compared to the previous year (2010-11).

The report finds that PMPML's bus fleet utilization dropped from 79 % in 2010-11 to 72.4% in 2011-12, during which time PMPML had added 85 new buses to its fleet of 1,549 buses.

Fleet utilization of the PMPML is incidentally lower compared to undertakings such as Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), Mumbai's BEST, or the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), which incidentally owns the highest number of buses. MSRTC's fleet utilization dipped marginally from 94.7% to 94.6%, while that of BEST dipped from 87.7% to 84 % and APSRTC's from 99.5 % to 96.6 %. The number of passengers each bus ferried per day too dropped from 795 to 639.

Low fleet utilization resulted in a substantial decrease in the number of passengers travelling per day. While nearly 12.5 lakh passengers travelled every day in the year 2010-11, the number reduced to 10.61 lakh per day in 2011-12. The number of passengers each bus ferried per day dropped from 795 to 639.

PMPML officials pointed out that a large number of buses do not go on the road because of shortage of bus drivers and conductors but said that now they have been recruiting for these positions and that fewer buses were remaining off the roads for this reason now.

Officials added that PMPML is reducing the number of old and rickety buses in its fleet overaged by scrapping them. According to the report, the average of PMPML buses is 7.3 years. Currently, PMPML has 1559 self-owned buses and another 272 buses which it has hired.

Prashant Jagtap, who is on the board of directors, said PMPML needs to improve its efficiency by proper maintenance of buses, better management and by implementing cost cutting measures. PMPML bus services also have to be very affordable, he said. Jugal Rathi of the PMP Pravasi Sangh has time and again pointed out to the management that a large number of bus schedules are not being operated for various reasons and that the number of passengers travelling per day has reduced significantly.

PMPML's revenue loss claim a mystery

It has been six years since the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal - the city's public bus transport undertaking was formed. While officials have been saying that PMPML is running into losses, its extent however is still a mystery, so much so that the details of financial performance have not been shared even with the union ministry of road transport and highways.

The ministry has recently come out with a report on the physical and financial performance of 38 road transport undertakings including that of the PMPML. Among all the 38 undertakings in the country, PMPML is the onlyone undertaking whose details on several aspects relating to its financial performance are not listed in the report. "Not reported'' is all that is said in the report on the financial performance of the PMPML.

The financial performance of all the transport undertakings of the country have been measured on several counts such as total revenue, total cost, net profit or loss, revenue earned per kilometer, cost incurred per kilometer, profit or loss per kilometer, cost of fuel and lubricants, cost of tyres, tubes and spares and expenditure incurred on staff.

The ministry's report states that the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation earned a profit of Rs 63.97 crore in the last financial year (2011-12). Mumbai's BEST however incurred a loss of over Rs 368 crore. Pune is often compared to Bangalore in terms of city infrastructure and public transport services. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation which has implemented several innovative measures and best practices for improving public transport has reported a profit of Rs 25.06 crore in the last financial year.

When contacted, PMPML's chairman and managing director Ramchandra Joshi said he had not seen the report but added that all details are sent to the ministry through the Central Institute of Road Transport. Prashant Jagtap, who is on the board of directors, said that the audit was not done and that the balance sheet was not shared with the entire board. of directors. "Meetings of the board of directors are held once in two months. We have asked for all the financial details, but they are not given'', he said.

Highlights of the report on performance of state road transport undertakings

** Marginal increase of 0.96 % in fleet strength in the last financial year (2011-12). Number of buses held by 38 state transport undertakings increased to 1,31,824 from 1,30,563 in the previous year.

** Largest fleet of 22,170 buses operated by Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC)

** Four states - Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu - hold 66 % of the total fleet among the 38 state road transport undertakings

** Average vehicle productivity increased to 312.3 km/bus/day from 311.5 km/bus/day

** Number of passengers during the year increased by 1.2 %. The total number of passengers increased from 2877.88 crore to 2,912.64 crore

** Maharashtra state road transport corporation posted the highest profit of Rs 63.97 crore in 2011-12. Delhi Transport Corporation incurred the highest loss of Rs 2,431 crore. Only five of 37 transport undertakings (Pune's PMPML did not provide the details), posted profit in 2011-12.

** Staff and fuel costs are major elements of operating cost. Staff cost was 39.6 %, while fuel cost was 30.1 %

** India continues to have one of the lowest vehicle ownerships and bus penetrations amongst some select developed countries and some developing countries.

** Maharashtra state road transport corporation (MSRTC), Karnataka state road transport corporation and Andhra Pradesh increased their fleet of buses in 2011-12-MSRTC's fleet increased by 589, KSRTC's by 457 and APSRTC's by 368.*

(The points above highlights pertain to only 38 road transport undertakings that submitted their report to the ministry)

Shivaji Nagar rly station to get facelift soon
Pune's Shivajinagar station is one of the five stations in the country identified by the Indian Railways for re-development, under the new Public Private Partnership (PPP) model adopted by it for modernisation of railway infrastructure.

The plan includes development of well-designed and spacious platforms, high-quality waiting rooms, avenues for easy access to the platforms, congestion free concourses, modern and state of the art catering facilities among other things.

Five railway stations in the country selected to be developed in the first phase of the ambitious project of the railway include Anand Vihar and Bijwasan stations in New Delhi, Habibganj in Bhopal, Shivajinagar (Pune) and Chandigarh Railway Station.

Contracts for architectural consultancy for four stations have been awarded, while the fifth is yet to be finalised. Tender for financial and bid advisory consultant for these stations is also under finalisation.

"Shivajinagar is the only station from the Central Railway selected for the project. The plan is to exploit the commercial potential of the railway land and the station space for redevelopment of the stations. The announcement has recently been done and nitty-gritties of the project are yet to be finalised," said V A Malegaonkar, chief PRO, Central Railway.

"The project is being sponsored by an Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRDC), a joint venture between our two Public Sector Utilities IRCON and RLDA. These five stations have been given to this corporation for development," a press statement issued by the Railways, read.

In his budget speech, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had envisaged investments of Rs 1 lakh crore through public private partnership (PPP) projects.

For want of the availability of funds, the infrastructure development of Pune station, Shivajinagar station and other suburban stations in the city is pending for years. In this light, the creation of state of the art facilities at the Shivajinagar station comes as a great relief , especially for the local commuters.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/shivaji-nagar-rly-station-to-get-facelift-soon/1090068/0

1,000 more buses needed to improve traffic: study
Though the transport experts and activists are urging Puneites to travel by Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) buses to improve the traffic situation in the city, not all can travel by them.

According to a study, PMPML is nearly 1,000 buses short than the required numbers to provide good public transport service to Pune.

The study has been carried out by the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) for PMPML to understand the requirement of buses for Pune’s population.

For this study, CIRT has considered the population of Pune city, PCMC and surrounding areas where PMPML is already providing its services. As per the calculations, the population comes to 62,90,764. According to the study, PMPML requires at least 2,328 buses to provide good transport service.

However, at present, the PMPML has only around 1,500 buses to carry passengers. One of the CIRT officials told DNA,

“We have carried out this study for PMPML so that it can improve the bus service of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. During the study, we realised that PMPML does not have enough buses to carry passengers. Unless that number is increased, the services cannot improve.”

The official further added, “We have considered a formula of one bus for nearly 2,000 people. According to that figure, PMPML should have least 2,328 buses of which 1,746 should be owned by PMPML while 582 can be hired from private contractors. However, at present, PMPML has around 1,400 to 1,500 buses, which are operational.”

PMP Pravasi Manch, a city-based NGO, had obtained some documents from PMPML officials, which mentions that only 1,313 buses were on road in January. Jugal Rathi, president of PMP Pravasi Manch said, “According to the information, the PMPML has 1,852 buses of which 272 are hired. However out of the total fleet, only 1,313 buses were operational. The statistics clearly shows that merely by increasing the number of buses, the public transport problem of the city cannot be resolved. The transport body will have to maintain these buses as well as rationalise the routes.”

When contacted, Pravin Ashtikar, joint managing director of PMPML, said, “ We are sending a proposal to the Centre to allot nearly 1,000 buses for Pune under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). If we get these buses then citizens will surely an improvement in PMPML’s service.”
DNA (http://www.dnaindia.com/pune/report_1000-more-buses-needed-to-improve-traffic-study_1815380)

1,000 swanky shelters to make wait for buses less of an ordeal

Commuters have been braving the sun and the rain while waiting at stations and request stops in shoddy shelters for buses run by Pune Mahanagar Palika Mahamandal Limited (PMPML).
Hope now rests with the public transport undertaking's effort to instal over 1,000 well-designed bus shelters in the city.They will be constructed on a public-private partnership basis in the next eight months and would be ready for use by early next year.Meanwhile,commuters will have to brave the summer and the monsoon.
Bus commuters groups have been complaining about the hardships people face because bus shelters are missing.In the last seven years since the PMPML came into existence,officials have been claiming that construction of bus shelters would be completed by the civic bodies on a build-operate and transfer basis.However,there were no detailed plans.
Of the total 4,900-odd bus stops in Pune,Pimpri Chinchwad and the fringe areas,there are bus shelters at only 1,000 locations.Even these are in a rundown condition.Thetransport undertaking has now planned to fix bus shelters at 1,019 locations,including 652 in Pune and 367 in Pimpri Chinchwad.
PMPML's joint managing director Pravin Ashtikar said two designs have been selecteda Mumbai pattern,and the other a Ludhiana pattern.These bus shelters,which will come in two sizes,will be made of stainless steel for long life and cleanliness.PMPML will select bidders who will finance and construct the bus shelters.They will be responsible for the maintenance of bus shelters for 15 years.In return,bidders will be allowed to display advertisements on the shelters to earn revenue.

source: TOI (http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=4&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOIPU&mydateHid=28-03-2013&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Pune&edname=&articleid=Ar00404&publabel=TOI)

5,000 unipoles to dot skyline with information on buses

As many as 5,000 unipoles along bus routes will inform commuters about the name and location of the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus stops.A unipole is a frame structure mounted atop a single steel pole or column.
At a meeting of PMPML's board of directors last month,the transport utility had decided to instal the unipoles to help a large number of citizens recognize the name of the bus stop,the location and bus route numbers and their frequency.
The unipoles,made of stainless steel,will display the PMPML's logo and other information of use to commuters,PMPML officials said.The project will be on a public-private partnership basis for 15 years,where the bidders will bear the cost of the unipoles and in return will be allowed to earn revenue by displaying their advertisements.
Jugal Rathi of the PMP Pravasi Manch said many bus stops had no information boards.`People find it difficult to locate the bus stop and bus drivers halt buses away from them,"he said.
source: TOI (http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=4&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOIPU&mydateHid=28-03-2013&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Pune&edname=&articleid=Ar00407&publabel=TOI)

Soon, city vehicle population to cross 35 L mark

Puneites are not likely to get any respite from the traffic congestion as city’s vehicle population is expected to cross 35 lakh mark by the end of this month. Nearly 14 lakh vehicles have been added to city’svehicle population in the last ten years.

Vehicle population of Pune including Pimpri Chinchwad has already crossed the 34.90 lakh mark at the end of February. The registrations for new vehicles are expected to rise in March before the end of financial year.

Although Pune is growing rapidly, the poor public transport system has not been able to keep up pace with Pune’s growth rate. While the city is expanding in every direction, there is poor connectivity of public transport system and therefore Puneites are forced to use private vehicles.

While Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad areas have a population of nearly 55 lakh, the vehicle population is nearing 35 lakh mark. According to the regional transport officials, nearly 700 vehicles are registered with the Pune RTO daily of which most of the vehicles are two-wheelers.

According to the Pune RTO’s statistics, till February end, the vehicle population of Pune including Pimpri Chinchwad was 34,90,569. Out of the total vehicle population, Pune city has a total of 24,53,717 vehicles while Pimpri Chinchwad has a population of 10,36,852
vehicles.

Out of the total 24,53,717 vehicles in Pune, nearly 75% of them that is 18,40,834 are two-wheelers. Apart from two-wheelers, the city has 4,30,440 four-wheelers which includes 3,74,445 small cars. In the year 2003, Pune had a total of 10,57,379 vehicles registered with Pune RTO.

The twin city Pimpri Chinchwad is also facing a problem of poor public transport system and it has a total of 10,36,852 vehicles of which 7,72,655 are two-wheelers and 1,55,943 are four-wheelers.

Arun Yeola, regional transport officer of Pune division said, “The pace at which new vehicles are getting registered with the Pune RTO, we are expecting the number of vehicles to cross the 35 lakh mark at the end of the financial year. The number has already crossed 34.90 lakh mark in February.”

http://www.dnaindia.com/pune/report_soon-city-vehicle-population-to-cross-35-l-mark_1816794

272 old buses to go off Pune roads

Nearly 500 buses, leased from private contractors, will be added to the PuneMahanagarParivahanMahamandal Limited's (PMPML) fleet in the next few months.

The PMPML had invited offers from private contractors for semi-low floor buses will comply with Euro IV norms and have dual doors opening both on the left and the right side. The transport utility has in its fleet of 1,500 at least 272 buses that have been hired from private operators. The contract period of these buses will end soon. While these old buses will be taken off the roads, 500 new ones will start plying once PMPML selects the contractors.

At least five contractors have approached PMPML. Officials on Thursday said the offers will be scrutinized and a final decision would follow. The buses will be provided by private operators and PMPML will pay them charges on a per km basis.

The buses will be hired for seven years with the condition that each bus should run for 6,000 km per month. The private transport operator has to employ his own drivers and the PMPML will deploy bus conductors. It will also get the revenue earned through sales of tickets. At least 90 % of the buses should ply on a daily basis throughout the contract period, PMPML has said.

The private operators have to make their own parking arrangements as the public transport company has inadequate number of depots. A proposal for redevelopment of depots by using additional FSI is pending with the Pune Municipal Corporation for the last one year.


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27 bids for Intelligent Traffic Management System
Seven contractors in race for hired buses
PMPML depots in bad shape

Read: http://epaper.sakaaltimes.com/SakaalTimes/2Apr2013/Enlarge/page2.htm

Pune: New buses that will be introduced on city roads will be safer,more comfortable for both passengers and drivers,and will be equipped with in-built ITS technology,if the municipal corporations of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad act on the recommendations of the union ministry of urban development.The ministry has recommended these features to 61 municipal corporations that come under JNNURM.
PMPML,the city public bus transport company has already procured 650 buses under JNNURM funding.However,officials say it plans to make a fresh proposal to procure additional buses that would conform with the new specifications.
Officials of the Pune-based Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT),which was one of the institutions that made suggestions on urban bus specifications,said they took into account requirements of urban commuters while making them.Specifications have also been listed for Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) buses.
According to the report on urban bus specifications,buses plying within the city should also be made more attractive so as to encourage more people to use them.They should also be made accessible to people with physical,sensory and cognitive impairments,it states.
Prashant Kakade,coordinator of the management development centre and a specialist in traffic engineering solutions at CIRT says urban public transport is different from state transport and that make these urban bus specifications significant.In cities,a large number of people,including senior citizens,children,women and even those with physical impairments use public transport.All these factors have been taken into account while drafting the specifications.For example,the width of the gangway is wider in urban bus specifications because the number of standing passengers is quite high, he said.Another factor taken into consideration is the insistence on low floor buses to help senior citizens board the bus.For BRTS buses,level boarding facilities have been recommended.
The report lists specifications for various types of buses based on the citys requirements.Besides specifications for standard size normal and BRTS buses,mini and midi buses,there are specifications for standard size premium segment,and intelligent transport systems.Kakade said that the specifications are compulsory for JNNURM buses,as there will be a third party inspection when the buses are delivered to the cities by suppliers.The third party inspection will be done by institutions such as CIRT and Automotive Research Association of India,he said.
The cost of travel in these buses would be more than in normal buses,but their performance would be better in terms of fuel efficiency and would be safer,more comfortable for passengers and drivers.Buses will be able to move at improved speed,while noise levels in the buses will be less,Kakade said.Instead of using metal which adds to the dead weight of the buses and affects speed,the buses would be made of fibre,he added.
Incidentally,PMPML has planned to install intelligent transport system requirements in the 650 BRTS buses it has already procured under JNNURM.The undertaking has recently called for offers from private contractors for installation of the ITS requirements.For BRTS operations,the buses have level boarding facility,officials said.

Few Indian cities have organized city bus service


The high powered expert committee on urban infrastructure and the ministry of urban development has estimated that cities in India need about 1.5 lakh buses that would cost approximately Rs 60,000 crores in the next 20 years.The report further cites that only 20 of 85 cities with over 5 lakh population (in 2009) offered an organised city bus service.The recommendations of the working group on urban transport for 12th five year plan includes introduction of organized public transport in all two lakh plus population cities and state capitals,as one of its goals.The report asserts that city bus services have been the major mode of public transport,and this will continue.

Recommendations Made

n Make buses safer,user-friendly

n Make buses accessible to people with physical,sensory and cognitive impairments

n Make gangway wider for standing passengers

n Make buses attractive to encourage more people to use it
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PCMC gears up to complete 4 BRTS routes by August 2014

he Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has claimed that four of its Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) projects will be completed in phases by August 2014.
Except for one corridor,the rest will be completed this year,the civic body has said in its written replies to queries by NCP corporator R S Kumar.There have already been huge delays in road-widening works for the corridors to be readied.
The civic body had started work on widening four major roads in the civic limits to increase connectivity and improve public transport to more than 10 lakh people in 2006.Four BRTS corridors are being developed,one along the Pune-Mumbai highway,the second on Aundh-Ravet,Wakad-Nashik Phata and Kalewadi Phata-Dehu Alandi roads.
However,except for the 12-km highway stretch between Nigdi and Dapodi,there has been no road widening because of delays in land acquisition.The widening of the highway stretch to 61 m was completed more than five years ago.However,the municipal corporation has not been able to implement the BRTS project.
Civic officials admitted that road-widening works have been delayed due to land acquisition and that they are hoping to meet the deadlines for completing the BRTS projects.
As per the civic administrations claims,two projects will be completed,this year.These include the first BRTS route on the highway stretch,and the Nashik Phata-Wakad Road stretch.The work on developing the second corridor on Aundh-Ravet Road began in September 2008 and is expected to be completed by this December.Work on the fourth route between Kalewadi Phata-Dehu Alandi Road began in August 2009 and is expected to be completed by next August.
During the presentation of the draft budget,municipal commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi had announced that the BRTS will be operational on the highway stretch by January 2014.However,Shiv Sena members had raised queries about road safety.
The civic body subsequently appointed an agency to look into the road safety issues of the BRTS operations on the highway stretch.The BRTS operations on the first corridor have been mired in controversies related to the design of the buses.The PCMC insisted that it wanted buses with doors on the left and right because all bus stations on the BRTS corridor in its limits will be on the right while those in Pune were on the left.
The PMPML bought such buses with doors opening on both sides a year ago but the BRTS corridors have not been completed and the buses are being used for routine passenger services.
Shirish Poreddy,spokesperson for the engineering department of the PCMC,said,Work on widening of the Pune-Mumbai highway has been completed.The two-storied flyover at Nashik phata chowk along the highway stretch will be completed this October.

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PMC set to begin work on Phase II of BRTS lanes in the next fortnight. The corridors will cut through extremely busy F C, J M and Aundh roads

With the first phase of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), that ran on the outer fringes, nearing completion, officials at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) are rolling up their sleeves to take up work on Jangli Maharaj (J M), Fergusson College (F C) and Aundh roads.

In keeping with tradition, the blueprint shows routes cutting right through the middle of these thoroughfares making space for the system’s dedicated lanes. Work is expected to start in a fortnight.




A collective 7-km stretch is to be dug on the three roads, with 2 km lengths each on FC and J M roads, while it will run for 3 km on Aundh Road. While the two parallel running roads will host single one-way lanes with a width of 3.5 metres, the two-way lane on University Road will take up 7 metres.

“The work order has been issued, with an approximate budget of Rs 12 crore. Last month, we did a survey of these three roads and made markings for the proposed BRTS corridor lanes,” informed Vijay Shinde, executive engineer at PMC who is coordinating the BRTS project.



There was some confusion for a while with Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) which plies the BRTS services, earlier insisting on a two-lane corridor on J M Road. However, that issue has been sorted and now a final meeting remains to freeze the work schedule.

PMPML traffic manager Sunil Gavali elaborated, “We had demanded a two-way BRTS lane on J M Road itself, as we thought it would be beneficial for commuters, who hardly take buses from F C Road, so we wanted two-way BRTS corridors on J M Road.”

The J M Road corridor will start at S G Barve Chowk till the end of Garware bridge, while on F C Road, the corridor will start from the same bridge and go to the end of the road where it meets University Road.

The Aundh Road stretch will run between Pune University Chowk and the Rajiv Gandhi Bridge. Given the traffic flow on these roads, there has been some dithering about starting work on them.


A collective 7-km stretch is to be dug
on the three roads “We kept the initial phase to the outskirts where the roads are wider and traffic thinner to enable us to build and showcase good infrastructure,” Shinde explained.

“We are hoping the positive experience of the BRTS in these segments will yield goodwill and make it easy for us to weave through the next phases,” he added.

Clearly there is a lot to fret, given the heavy traffic on these roads, where cutting off even 3.5 metres of 30 metres on J M Road or 24 metres on F C Road, can turn into choke points.

“We will contain our work area to just the 3.5 metres that the lanes are to take up, by moving forward in a phased manner, even for piling the overburden generated by the digging and parking our equipment,” Shinde tried to assure.

He is also hoping to work fast, given the deadline for completing work on all four routes of BRTS by the close of the current calendar year.

The total 68-km BRTS will run between Warje and Kharadi for 22 km, Kothrud depot to Vishrantwadi for 17 km, Dhayari to Hadapsar Gadital taking up another 17 km and Kalewadi Phata to Katraj.

Only, the deadline seems extremely ambitious, given that the first phase of construction of just three patches (Sangamwadi Road, Alandi Road and Nagar Road —collectively 16 km) of the first route will take up to July-end (read 11 months) and the second phase involving another three routes (this time running through heavy traffic) of the same route is yet to begin.

“Now, we will be speeding up our work and start on all four routes simultaneously,” Shinde argued. “We will try to finish as much as possible by the year-end, but if not done, we will have to ask for an extension,” he also added.
http://www.punemirror.in/article/62/2013050920130509004257187972a531d/BRTS-takes-an-uneasy-middle-path.html